[hailing from ny]

Hey everyone. Perhaps you've heard of the racehorse Barbaro. It broke it's leg during the Preakness [or was it the Kentucky Derby]. Whatever, that's not important. I'm here to argue that the amount of medical treatment this injured horse is getting is ludicrous and wasteful. Opinions?

[dark_chancellor]

^ hm..why do you think so? Just because he's a horse and so much efforts shouldn't be made to save his life?

[edward1849]

Hey everyone. Perhaps you've heard of the racehorse Barbaro. It broke it's leg during the Preakness [or was it the Kentucky Derby]. Whatever, that's not important. I'm here to argue that the amount of medical treatment this injured horse is getting is ludicrous and wasteful. Opinions?

How much do you know about horses? I've been following Thoroughbred racing many years. It is not only about the races coz most horses have a short racing career (2 to 3 years on average). Breeding is a major part of the horses' live after they are retired from racing. If heathy, each horse will produce 20 to 30 offsprings from breeding each year. Good horses also shuttle between North America, Europe, and Australia for breeding. Young horses with a good sire (father) and dam (mother) are worth millions of dollars on thoroughbred auctions. Barbaro is a Kentucky Derby winner, that's already a good resume'. Of course the owners have to save his live no matter how much it costs them. Breeding is a big business.

Barbaro is a very special horse:

1. The way he won the Kentucky Derby was masterful - blowing away a supposed to be competitive field. He was suppose to be a front runner but in that race, he came from behind to win, completely against his running style.

2. He started out his career on the turf (grass). His pedigree Dynaformer is more of a turf horse. Barbaro only switched to the dirt early this year. This kind of versitility is rarely seen in a race horse, especially in such high level (grade I) competiton. Because races in the rest of the World are mainly run on grass, his offsprings are expected to be spread all over the World. That further increases his breeding value.

3. He was undefeated until he broke his leg in the Preakness. His potential is unlimited. All horse owners dream of owning such a horse, it is harder than winning the lottery. Any reasonable owners would save his life.

I hope Barbaro is strong enough to recover. I would really like to see his offsprings running on race tracks in a few years.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34425

[crackednut]

a champion deserves champion treatment

[DOVAHKIIN]

Hey everyone. Perhaps you've heard of the racehorse Barbaro. It broke it's leg during the Preakness [or was it the Kentucky Derby]. Whatever, that's not important. I'm here to argue that the amount of medical treatment this injured horse is getting is ludicrous and wasteful. Opinions?

If your dog (let's assume you have one if you don't) was sick, you'd seek medical attention for it from the vet, no?

Why put Barbaro's achievements and efforts to waste and not save his life?

Watch Seabiscuit, that should teach you more about horses and why you should care for them

[LolitaMan]

I could care less about a rich man's sport such as horseracing. That horse sure is getting some ridiculous amount of coverage and attention I swear. Who the f**K gives a s**t.

[dark_chancellor]

I could care less about a rich man's sport such as horseracing. That horse sure is getting some ridiculous amount of coverage and attention I swear. Who the f**K gives a s**t.

You don't, but many other people do. The horse is still a celebrity; the fact that he's an animal doesn't diminish his status.

and stop circumventing around the swear filter. last verbal warning.

[LolitaMan]

The fact that he's getting more attention than real important issues is a joke.

[Colorful]

^ so if you broke your leg, does that mean you shouldn't get treatment? I mean because their is so much more important things then your leg.

[mikeee]

I hope Barbaro is strong enough to recover. I would really like to see his offsprings running on race tracks in a few years.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34425

well they've already stated that he wouldn't be a good stud, so he wouldn't have offspring.

they just want him to live the rest of his life comfortably.

i mean, it's a horse from PA so i'm hoping for the best too

[DOVAHKIIN]

The fact that he's getting more attention than real important issues is a joke.

So then why don't do you criticize human athletes that get injured that also get attention from the sports media?

Other important issues are getting attention but obviously not in sports. This a sports section, so we pay attention to sports, and so do sports channels, sports section of newspapers, Barbaro fits in sports and its discussion, not world issues.

[LolitaMan]

Wow sorry didn't mean to offend you PETA folks LOL.

[dark_chancellor]

I don't think wanting what's best for the race horse immediately means we're PETA people..that's like saying if people want to pull troops out of Iraq now means they're Liberals, or if that you're against the troops. I just don't seem to understand why the horse doesn't deserve as much treatment as can be afforded, and as the horse himself is a celebrity, doesn't deserve attention from people who care about the sport in the sports section, no less, and separate from the politics of the world. It's not like it's taking up any significant amount of space on people's minds when they think about current events..I'm pretty sure this takes up a miniscule amount. In fact, Barbaro is probably one of the last things they think about when people are asked what they think are important issues right now. People nowadays are most likely to be paying attention to climbing oil prices, conflict in the Middle East, and the missle debacle in East Asia. Why don't you go complain in the general discussion section about why the genocide in Sudan isn't getting as much attention as it should? or the persistent poverty seen in Africa in general, or the intense fighting in Somalia. Something like this, or sports in general, serve as distractions for some people who look at current events and study it everyday, or are bombarded by news reports everyday, and want to have an outlet. There're plenty of arguments for why there's nothing wrong with the amount of attention Barbaro has gotten.. and I still await equal counter arguments against it.

[hailing from ny]

Well, I simply said that I think the amount of medical treatment for the horse [and any other horse in that situation] is spendthrift, not in lieu of the economics of current events [rising oil prices, cost of war, etc] but that millions of human beings are dying everyday due to the lack of medical treatment while the horse gets surgery? I just don't see the logic.

Maybe I'm indirectly arguing that human life is inheirently more valuable than other life...

[DOVAHKIIN]

Blame governments for not spending enough money for current events in the whole world, not those who are looking after Barbaro.

Barbaro was taken to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for treatment. The Center is renowned for its specialized care, especially for animals needing complicated bone surgery. Its use of heated pools fitted with "horse rafts", electronic overhead winches and monorails is unique on the U.S. East Coast, offering the greatest available protection against re-injury by horses coming out of sedation after surgery.

Barbero's injuries were life threatening. His life depended on whether the blood supply to the ankle could be maintained. Barbaro had arrived safely at New Bolton Fair Hill Training Center, and had responded well to being tranquilized.

The next morning, Dr. Dean Richardson performed a fusion of that joint and stabilized it and made it comfortable enough for Barbero to walk on. It was a five hour procedure and was one of the toughest surgeries he had ever performed. The surgical team successfully inserted titanium plate metal implants and more than 20 screws into the colt's injured leg to help fuse the fetlock (ankle) joint and pastern and a fiberglass cast had been placed over this. Barbaro then went in the recovery pool at 7:40 pm.

So there you go, blame the New Bolton Center for specializing in animal care, or his jockey for caring, etc. So let's say the horse didn't get any medical attention and died. You expect part of a University that specializes in animal care to go tell Bush to spend less on war?

[mikeee]

You guys are attempting to turn a story about a horse, that somehow inspires people, into a negative thing. I can simply say all of you are being wasteful for paying for internet when that money can simply be sent to those who are in need of money for medical reason and for food. I can argue that none of you are doing anything specific to help out those in dire need. They aren't spending your money, it's there money, they can spend it how they see it. Those horses are bred and cared for and have millions upon millions of dollars invested in them. I think it's the owners right to attempt to salvage the life of their horse. You can also argue that we spend too much money on sporting events and professional athletes.

I don't see how the owners spending their money is hurting you in any way.

[LolitaMan]

Yea they can do whatever they want, but don't try to make us feel sorry for the horse. One time in the news is all that's needed. The majority don't give a damn about it.

[dark_chancellor]

no one's trying to make you feel sorry for the horse, you don't have to care about the horse.. just gloss over it or completely skip over the news story about the horse if you don't care about it. You don't give a damn, but there are fans of horse racing who do give a damn.. I don't watch horse racing, but I find this story intriguing and interesting.. it's also a good opportunity for people to effortlessly learn things about animal care, albeit it a brief and simplified version. it's like people wanting to follow the recovery process of a celebrity, or a sports star..maybe you feel the same way about them too, but fans of different sports would beg to differ.. If the star player on the team I'm cheering for got in a serious injury, I'd looking to see if there were news/updates on his/her condition. There's really no difference here except for interest

[edward1849]

Well said, Ben.

I am closing this thread, it doesn't seem to head anywhere but off topics and bashings.

Good luck to Barbaro in his recovery.