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I am sure there were all kinds of emotions involved in the decision 
about Barbaro. I am sure they depended highly on the recommendations of 
the vets involved and they have some of the best in the world. I bred my 
wonderful mare about 16 years ago. The horse was to replace her as my 
next endurance horse. She is one of very few walking horses to ever do a 
100. She is the only one to qualify and complete the ROC. She is special

At five weeks old Rocket was blasting around the field in the rain 
frolicking like a lively colt will. He slipped - went down and jumped up 
with his hind right leg dangling. I ran out threw him down while my wife 
called the vet. I laid on the ground holding him down with a make shift 
splint on his leg for an hour in the rain. The vet came and cast it and 
did an X-ray. A week later after talking with the vet we decided to pin it.

Many a person told me I should have put him down - " no horse can have a 
decent quality of life after a broken leg." I must say it was a 
difficult decision and it was made with input from my vet and I must 
admit by looking in the little guys eyes. His eye told me something 
which to this day I remember. I'm a sentimentalist by temperament by a 
skeptic by training and experience.

Rocket never did an endurance ride. However, today Rocket as good of a 
trail horse that anyone could want. He is a blast to ride. Rocket is 
sound and Rocket loves the trail. He's got a canter to kill for and 
loves to jump. Rocket is the horse we can put anyone on and take them 
out. Rocket is the horse we use to train our young ones.

Will Barbaro ever carry a rider again - probably not. The decision about 
Barbaro is not for any of us to make. It is for his owners in 
consultation with their vets to make. If I had put Rocket down - I would 
have snuffed out the life of a horse that - yes had a rocky start but 
after that has had a good quality of life. Sure there was some rehab - 
but I suspect Rocket has had less bute over his life than I expect 3/4's 
of the horses out there. Rocket is a blast to ride. Rocket rules the 
pasture - except for his mother and he's waiting for the old bat to kick 
off so he can be King.

So I for one will never second guess anyone about the decision they make 
about their horse. It is not for us to judge - because it is not our horse.

Truman

Amber Roberts wrote:
> Suzanne Boyd wrote:
> > And as far as Barbaro commanding high stud fees,,,I doubt it. If he 
> > pulls through this latest setback it will be a miracle and a 
> > testament to his huge heart. The chances that he will EVER be able to 
> > cover a mare(t-breds are live cover only)is very,very slim.
> Oh my. I didn't know that. I don't know how he could ever do that.
>
> Amber


--

“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a 
monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also 
into you.” Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil


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