File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nssrqK-0VUg

How did it happen?
>> 4tran
Does anyone here on 4chan specialize in horse anatomy/health?

Humans can easily survive much worse injuries, yet we execute this horse for some broken ankles. Is it simply because the horse lost its economic value?

Some years ago, Barbaro phailed to survive some broken bones. Is our medical knowledge of horses that primitive? Are human antibiotics toxic to them?
>> Anonymous
look, i wouldnt call myself an animal lover, but lets face it. humans are freaks of nature! NO, people shouldnt hunt just for sport! i mean why? so u can brag that u killed an animal with a gun? shit, my little brother could kill shit with a gun. my woman could kill a fuckin bear with a gun. the day i meet a gue that says "i killed this here polar bear with the tools that evolution gave me!" then ill say "well shit! he deserved to die for being stupid." but a guy who kills a wolf or gater with a gun or whatever other weapon these hillbillys use now atdays, im sorry, im not impressed. as far as people bitchin about animals terrorising thair comunities, well no one said they had to live there. you chose to live with these animals. so u accept the concequences.
>> Anonymous
in during petafaggotry
>> Anonymous
>>243653
Did you miss the hunting thread or something?
>> Anonymous
>>243652

Horse leg bones heal for shit. That's mostly because ther's barely any meat there which would support an broken or even healed bone, leading to frequent re-breaks, if the bone heals at all.
>> Anonymous
It has to do with the fact that race horses have tons of blood vessels in their lower legs, and thinner bones. This means that a broken leg usually mean shattered bones and a lot of blood loss.
This can all heal, but remember that horses can't lie down for too long... they were built for standing, and lying for too long causes various organ and bloodflow problems. That means that the horse would essentially be supporting more weight on 3 feet, and would still have to use the broken one to get around. This could cause damage to the other remaining feet, AND more damage to the broken one. In other words, it would be nearly impossible to get a badly broken leg fixed.
And when/if the bone is healed? Bones don't heal 100% and it may even heal set improperly - especially in thin bones. This will cause more leg breaks.

A horse recovering from a broken leg is also very susceptible to infections, due to the injury.

So, euthanasia is usually the best option. Minor leg injuries can usually be treated but the horse cannot race again.
Sadly, it's not unheard of that race horses with MINOR leg injuries are euthanized solely for the fact that they can no longer race and would be a financial burden to the keeper otherwise.
>> Anonymous
>>243652

The way we breed and train the damn horses, a horse is fucking useless the moment it breaks an ankle. Have you seen how overly muscular their bodies are in comparison to the feral and wild horses?
>> Anonymous
Horses, rodeo horses especially, receive veterinary care and heal from fractures quite often compared to when it was considered automatically fatal. But in this case she broke both her front ankles and a sesamoid bone, one of the ankles broke through the skin and the wound was contaminated. There was no way they could have gotten her into the ambulance and even if they could transport her, her long-term chances of surviving her wounds was virtually non-existant because there was no way she could stand and would have likely developed laminitis even if she didn't die from shock or a systemic infection.
>> Anonymous
Horse Meat does sound tasty right now....
>> 4tran
>>243660
And there's no way to put the horse in a cast, or otherwise prop up the broken leg?

>>243662
We can lift tanks in planes, but can't lift an injured horse?

>>both
There are tons of antibiotics. Do none of them work? Are they all toxic to horses? If there are a lot of blood vessels in that area, then the drugs will reach the area.

I find it surprising that animal medical care is so difficult. If the owners were simply too cheap to spend $100 on antibiotics, fine, it's an economic reason. If the technology is lacking, that's quite sad.
>> Anonymous
>>243670
Animal medical care is difficult because animals are both very stupid and can't talk.
>> Anonymous
>>243672

sounds like paediatric care.
>> Anonymous
>>243655
fuck off
>> Anonymous
WHERE MY ELMERS AT? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
>> Anonymous
what caused the breakage?
>> Anonymous
Thoroughbreds as of today are notoriously interbred for specific qualities. They breed for animals that have the power of the larger breeds but legs similiar to that of tooth picks. Even the hooves are kept in account, most racehorses have a hoof 1/2 the size of the quarter horse leading them onto the track. We've all had that pain, running really fast then suddenly stopping. Eight Belles was putting her full weight into a slowing gallop which probably lead to the factures. What we should really ask is why doesnt this happen more often.
>> Anonymous
>>243670
Tanks don't panic
>> Anonymous
>>243670

HAY. Did you not read>>243660??

This man speaks the truth! I can't put it any other way. We've had horses in our family for ages and yeah, it happens. I promise. There's no "heal beam" for horse legs.

Plus, someone here already mentioned that she broke BOTH ankles. So it's not like she could have stood on them anyway. "So make her lie down". Well, no, go read the thread some more. Seriously. I'm glad they didn't try to fix her, it just would not have ended and she would've suffered until they gave up.
>> Anonymous
For the lulz:

Hillary Clinton had told people that she was rooting for Eight Belles and wanted her supporters to go for that horse.

There's something ironic about that horse running as hard as it can only to finish second and die, to a horse named Big Brown (hey, who could that represent?).

Also, they both beat a horse named Colonel John.
>> Anonymous
>>243750
[citation needed]
>> Anonymous
>>243718

It's fucking horrible and sad, the way we breed and inbreed animals in such cruel manners just for some vague human aesthetic enjoyment. A lot of /an/ fears and hates horses if one believes the threads that crop up now and then. I bet they wouldn't fear and hate horses so much if they were bred to healthier proportions.
>> Anonymous
>>243764
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qrmp0QPOSc
>> Anon
I was reading an article where a trainer/breeder compared thoroughbred to potatoes on toothpick legs. It's about right.
Racing is a big thing around here, and the sheer amount of breaks for racehorses heavily outweighs that of normal horses because of the 'need for speed' breeding.
People are always racing their non-racers full gallop acrossed some extremely nasty terrain around here, I've even seen nasty falls which only ended up in bruising and a few cuts.
As for healing, if a horse is kept in a stall constantly it has circulation problems. Why? The frog (soft cushy spot at the back of the foot) serves as a pump to get blood back up the leg. How that works is the horse puts its foot up and down, kinda like you stepping on an air pump. Barbaro couldn't do that, ended up with laminitis and other foot diseases. Also, a horse bears most of its weight on the front legs. That filly was shit out of luck with both ankles broke.
>> Anon
>>243781Cont
As for having them lie down or hanging them up (think Free Willy-esque aparatus)...
It's a rule of thumb here, if you can't get a horse up it's as good as dead. Which has held true so far.
Horses usually stand up and cat nap with one leg propped up at a time to rest. They have tendons that lock to keep them up. To get to REM sleep, they do lie down on occasion, but briefly. Why? Insecurites and the fact that their own body mass will crush organs.
Harnessing them up also holds its own troubles. Sores can develop from the harness, horse can struggle and cause the thing to snap, and then the blood circulation issue I mentioned above.
Then you have the after care. Race horses are highstrung SOBs, majority I've met are batshit crazy. Keeping them from reinjuring themselves can be hard as hell. A friend did the harness with a prized stud, healed up, took him for walks, Mr. Stud finally had enough and broke loose, ended up snapping his ankle badly. Bye bye studdy.
Not all horses have to be put down for breaks though. I had a half blind app that managed to nab herself in wire (the previous owners of the land buried shit which the horses are constantly tracking up) at a gallop and broke her front ankle. Being docile, we kept her stall bound and she healed. Sold her and she's used as a child's horse and broodmare.
>> Anonymous
Barbaro is probably boning her right now as we speak in Horsie Heaven.
>> Anonymous
>>243793

Hahahaha! You know, I was really disappointed about Eight Belles' death until I read that.
>> Anonymous
>>243793

Animals don't have souls. They don't go to heaven
>> Anonymous
>>243718

It *does* happen. The only time most people hear about it is when they are watching the bigger races. Thousands of thoroughbreds die every year because they break down like this. There are programs to move ex-racers who are still up for light work to horse lovers who adopt them, but many aren't offered this option.

In addition to breeding for speed instead of stability, racehorse owners start their horse's training off way too early, before their bones have hardened enough to support a person's weight or their own weight after being forced to gallop rigorously. They are forced into training so early because the sooner they start racing, the sooner the money starts coming in for the owners, trainers, etc. But the horses aren't mature enough and their weakened skeletal structure due to both breeding and training often lead to fractures and other injuries.

RIP Eight Belles...
>> Anonymous
>>243870

For example:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/18498174.html
>> Anonymous
I think a more important question is how the Horse got euthanized, and did they film it.
>> Anonymous
>>243808

the soul doesn't exist, enjoy rotting in the dirt.
>> 4tran
>>243672
>>243721
Good points.

>>243750
LOL

>>243771
/an/ hates horses? Orly?

>>243781
A much better answer; thanks. It's unfortunate that animals can't sit still long enough...
>> Anonymous
She fucking shattered her ankles, the bones were sticking out through the skin, and basically her shit was ruined with no chance of healing.

She would have been in constant pain, and wouldn't have been able to heal from an injury like that because horses can't be in beds and stay off their broken bone for a few months. In addition to the constant pain the risk of reinjury, assuming all the fucked up blood vessels and shattered bones could be fixed, would have been very high.

People are starving and homeless, and you guys are bitching about a glorified cow.
>> Anonymous
How sad.

/eats a hamburger
>> Anonymous
Eight Belles COME ON GO BABY GO, AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, dammit.

Stupid horse I hope your die.

...

OH SHIT!
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>243793
>>243799
>> Anonymous
>>243966People are starving and homeless, and you guys are bitching about a glorified cow.

I wonder how many people Eight Belles could've fed...too bad her owners are putting her corpse to the torch.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>243631
>>243670

I'm thinking you know very little about horses. Or else you would know that a horse can not be "bed ridden" for 6-12 weeks. Bones can break in a horse and the horse can still be salvaged, but in this case this would be akin to having your feet broken. Would your doctor even think about letting you try to walk? No, they wouldn't.

Horses have a touchy digestive system, one where if they cast themselves (meaning they roll in their stall or outside along a fence) they risk colic. It would be like getting the world's worst stomach ache and there's nothing you can do about it. Because horses can't puke.

What Barbaro went through was really uncharted territory. But at least they had something to work with to start, where the bones could somewhat be wrangled into a fixable alignment. He had a network of slings to help keep his body weight off of ONE FOOT. His problem was all the secondary problems that came about. Eventually you do need to know when to call it quits, that needless suffering outweighs your love for them.

As heartless as you think the owners were for putting it down, it was more likely not due to economics but survivability. Something this public wouldn't go unreported as to updates/status reports.

In after feeding the troll.
>> Anonymous
>>243652Does anyone here on 4chan specialize in horse anatomy/health?

Do ponygirls count?
>> 4tran
>>244039
I'm asking _because_ I know nothing. Now that I know more, I'm less of a dumbass! :)

>>244069
My questions have already been answered, and I don't even know what you're trying to ask/suggest.
>> Anonymous
>>243966

>baaaawwwwww
>> Anonymous
>>244075My questions have already been answered, and I don't even know what you're trying to ask/suggest.

Potential Blue Board Violation.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
eight belles ate dirt
>> Anonymous
>>244199
he sure did.....lol
>> Anonymous
horses are crappy animals that's why
plus they have big huge bodies and little toothpick legs
and they keep the best ones in little tiny cubicles
makes perfect sense
>> Anonymous
how did it happen you ask? simple. because she was a woman running with men....it just dont work. look at the whore hillary
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
look at the size of that euth
>> Anonymous
>>244308
;_; so full of euth!
>> Anonymous
no what happens is in almost all broken legs in racehorses is the fact that horses bones dont stop growing till there like 7 or 8... most race horses are like 3 or so.... thats what happens... ppl suck and they only do EVERYTHING for money w/ no regard for animal life... it pisses me off and i think its a fucking travesty. 700 race horses are killed each year... and for what... a year or two of "glory" fucking lame... makes me SO mad
>> Anonymiss !8a.AapkhGM
PETA's jumped on this shit, too:

>>NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

>>Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

>>PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was ``doubtlessly injured before the finish'' and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated.

>>``What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?'' PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. ``If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly.''

>>Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

>>Saez, a 20-year-old Panama native, was riding in his first Kentucky Derby. He frequently rides for Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones.

>>A call to the jockeys' room at Delaware Park, where Saez raced on Sunday, went unanswered.

>>Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, appeared fine until collapsing while galloping out after the finish.

>>The letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also sought a ban on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.
>> Anonymous
>>244404
lol, PeTA. Always there when they can get free publicity. Hypocritical cunts.
>> Anonymous
>>244404
Yeah, great. Now everyone can dismiss it all as a non-issue simply being blown out of proportion by PETAnuts. Way to go. Bring out the nude celebrity pony-girls being whipped to demonstrate just how... what was the point again?

>and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

There's still a lack of research demonstrating that soft, artificial surfaces are in fact better for horses and don't actually contribute to sprains and other injuries.
>> Anon
Peta, for apparently loving animals and knowing so much about them (said in sarcasm) , wouldn't it be obvious that running on broken 'wrists' would have shown immediately?
And with that kind of injury, whip pain would not be noticeable to the horse. Horses have tough hide, it's mostly the sound of the whip that spooks them foreward.
Take for instance, in lunge-line, you're not supposed to actually hit the horse with the whip. The snapping of the whip is usually enough to get them going.

Thoroughbreds are bred to mature faster than other 'long necked' breeds. I have a Walking Horse (another 'long necked' breed) that I hope to god she's done growing at eight years.
But I agree, they push them too young. I don't like starting mine at three. They start thoroughbreds as young as a year. They're not mentally or physically ready for a rider. No wonder they're nuts and lame. Their careers are shorter too. They considered a horse that was five years and running old. We owned a rehome that was finally retired at 12 (so they could focus on the younger ones) and he was considered ancient for a racehorse.

>>244243
I have one with 'toothpick legs' but I assure you, good stock doesn't follow the gangly look. And I always did wonder about keeping your best racehorses in tiny stalls. Studies show pasture horses are healthiest mentally and physically. I was told it was to keep them safe..from themselves. Then, before a race, they give them shit to piss out all their body water. The saying 'have to piss like a racehorse', well that saying has some merit there.