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RE: [RC] Barbaro - heidiMuch as I dislike a great many things about the TB industry, there
are a lot of assumptions in a post like this that simply aren't
justified. Horses exhibit pain by having increased heart rates,
going off feed, acting depressed, etc. Barbaro has for the most
part maintained a normal heart rate, has slicked up his food, has
maintained normal bloodwork, and has remained bright-eyed and
cheerful. He is not exhibiting signs of being cruelly in
pain. He is having his pain managed medically, certainly--but the
point is that it IS being managed, and fairly successfully, or he would
not be acting the way he is acting.
His owners have said all along that if those aspects change, they
will pull the plug. To be judgmental about their motives in
caring about the horse and to suggest that the horse is suffering a
great deal simply is not fair to his owners and trainer, or to the
veterinary staff that is attending him. They monitor him closely,
and will be aware (should that time come) when he crosses that fine line
between being a happy horse and being a miserable one. Yes, I'm
sure he'd rather be whole and sound and frolicking in a paddock
somewhere--but he is exhibiting every sign of accepting his confinement
with aplomb and of not being any more than mildly uncomfortable.
And since that is the case, I agree with those who have suggested that
we need to cut his owners a little slack, whether we like the industry
in general or not.
Heidi
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