Horses break down every single day at horse tracks around the country.

[trumad]

I saw 3 in one day go down at Calder race track in South Florida. They euthanized them right there on the track. WHY? Because it was the right thing to do and it's what they should have done to Barbaro...

BUT hey... that sperm could have made em millions.

[jilln]

1. No, the right thing to do

would be not to race them in the first place.

[trumad]

2. And then what would they do...

Pony rings?

[specimenfred1984]

3. Killing horses is fine but apparently jokes are evil

Locking in 5...4...3...2...

[mcscajun]

4. His owners had already pretty much given up a stud career already

They were simply trying to save the life of a horse they loved.

In the thoroughbred world, artificial insemination is not allowed. Stallions must be able to mount a mare naturally, supporting all their weight on their hind legs. Even had the surgeries worked, in all likelihood this would not have been possible for Barbero.

[Bjornsdotter]

5. I didn't know that

....is it because the sperm could be switched with a "lesser" horse?

Cheers

[mcscajun]

10. Bingo.

:)

[shaniqua6392]

7. Thank you for clearing that fact up.

I think they were just trying to save him. They knew early on that he would not be able to be a stud. They were still willing to save him as long as he would not be in pain. People keep saying that they were doing it for the sperm and they were not. He was the best horse that these owners had in over 30 years of breeding and racing. It just seemed hard for them to let him go. They are not heartless people and there was a lot of public pressure to keep trying.

[aquart]

8. And Barbaro fought to live.

It is damned hard to kill something that doesn't have the look that says, "It's time. Do something."

Sometimes we wait too long. Sometimes the animal won't let us know, will keep trying. Sometimes a creature has nothing left but fur and bone and sheer determination. How do you not respect that and help?

It is really easy to make a blanket generalized statement. Isn't the essence of what we stand for as Democrats that we treat everyone as individuals with individual and not cookie cutter needs? How does that not apply to the animals we know and name and love?

[phylny]

15. I agree. I know that look, because it's the look our beloved Cavalier

King Charles Spaniel gave us in October.

Previously, when we wondered, "Is now the time?" she'd do something amazing to lead us to believe she still had an enjoyable life (such as chase a wild turkey up into a tree).

But one day, it was obvious that she had had it. To us, she said, "Enough, please."

[Junkdrawer]

9. From NPR this morning: "...who's still potentially a very valuable stallion..."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7058884

The report details all the troubles the horse has had...

[hippiechick]

6. He must have been miserable these 8 months ...

... multiple surgeries, not able to do the "horse thing" - run, graze, whatever - in a sling, in a brace, pins, bolts, etc ... and they say they "loved" him? Hmmmmmm.

They should have put him down shortly after the initial injury, IMO that would have been the most humane thing to do.

[iamjoy]

11. No, It Wouldn't

I was listening to Barbaro's vet on NPR this morning and the idea was that as long as Barbaro showed some interest in things, they would keep trying to save him. And the horse did show interest in food and people.

Apparently, he stopped doing that, and that's what was behind the decision to euthenize him.

IMHO, the only valid reason for they should have put Barbaro down immediately is to think of all that money spent on a horse when there are almost 50 million people in this country with no health insurance.

[aaronbees]

12. His surgeon, Dr. Dean Richardson...

said clearly at today's press conference that last night was the first time he's shown distress during the recovery period. He was, by all accounts of those who were around him during the past 8 months, a happy horse for the majority of his recuperation time -- both a model patient and a fighter. They did right by him, I think.

[Fatima]

13. I am a long-time horse owner

and couldn't agree more. It was the Jackson's horse; it was their money to spend and their decision to make. Had the horse been mine the decision would have been different, but hey, he wasn't. They did the best they could. And for the "what a waste of money, look at all the poor people who could have been saved" crowd, to hell with them- half of them drive expensive cars and live in McMansions anyway so I pay 'em no mind.

[Alleycat]

14. I believe the Jacksons were sincere

From reading their comments and watching the efforts they put into getting Barbaro better I feel they were trying their hardest to do right by this horse. Barbaro was insured they could have put him down at the track and walked away. They didn't go with the insurance- they spent 100's of thousands of their own money on his recovery. The level of spending is relative. I am by no means a wealthy individual but over the course of a year I spent $5,000 on one of my pets. Should I not have spent the money? This horse seemed to hold much more for this couple then just a money winner.