"Something was wrong. He's the best horse I've ever ridden. I took care of him."
~ Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown's jockey after the Belmont Stakes
What did happen to Big Brown during the grueling Belmont Stakes? The simple answer is that he just "hit the wall." It's not exactly uncommon among athletes, equine or otherwise. But why and on this day of all days?
Desormeaux also said, "The track wasn't holding him up. He slipped." Thoroughbreds are are notoriously of such a temperament that something like that can throw them completely off their game - and this goes for even a relatively laid back guy like Big Brown.
Thoroughbreds are also notorious for having thin, shelly hoof walls, and Big Brown did miss some training time because of a quarter crack. Was that enough to make such a difference?
If Desormeaux had continued trying to place him, might Big Brown have had one of those catastrophic breakdowns for which fatigue is known to be a huge risk factor? Fortunately, we will never know the answer to that one, but it certainly seems well within the realm of possibility.
Have we not had a Triple Crown winner for 30 years because modern TBs are so inbred and have been bred for speed alone for so long that the lengthy Belmont Stakes, coming so soon after the Derby and Preakness, is too much for them to handle anymore? Especially considering that they really are just babies.
If so, how much has that contributed to the heartbreaking deaths of the likes of Eight Bells and Barbaro? In breeding for ever more refined (i.e. lighter) bone, have breeders past the point at which bone density and training can compensate for lack of pure size?
There have been many questions recently about track surfaces as well. Those surfaces are a part of the whole American style of racing - running faster and shorter on dirt, as opposed to slower and longer runs on turf which are much more in keeping with what horses are naturally adapted to do. Are American Thoroughbreds being bred to run faster than flesh and blood can cope with?
Honestly, I do not know. I don't pretend to know. Unfortunately, I don't think anybody else knows either. I've never followed racing much, and I certainly never watch. If I'd seen Ruffian or Barbaro or Eight Bells go down... Let's just say that those are images I don't care to have to remember. It makes me feel crappy enough as it is.
I do know however that the above questions need answers, and soon. And I haven't even mentioned the whole area of steroids - which Big Brown was getting once a month except for May - and other questionable drugs which have been in all too common use.
Personally, I wish Big Brown all the best. He's a good horse, and I hope he lives a long and happy life. Sure, we all wish he had won the Triple Crown, but, you know, he doesn't care at all. And since I think the horse must come first in everything we do with them, that's good enough for me.
For the sake of all the other racing horses, I do feel the issues that made so many headlines this season must be addressed - sooner than later. There are so many things wrong with racing at present, but, fortunately for Big Brown, Kent Desormeaux isn't one of them.
Showing posts with label equine protection network. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equine protection network. Show all posts
6/8/08
4/14/08
Rodeo Company Drivers Convicted of Violating PA Horse Transport Law
Equine Protection Network
www.EquineProtectio
www.EquineProtectio
April 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rodeo Company Drivers Convicted of Violating PA Horse Transport Law
Banning Doubles has Scheduled Dates in IL – Passage of IL Horse
Transport Law will Ban Doubles
Three Hills Rodeo, whose drivers pled guilty to 36 counts of
violating the PA Horse Transport Law in 2005 and paid $5000.00 in
fines, also have five dates scheduled in Illinois in 2008. The
Illinois House just passed the IL Horse Transport Bill, HB 4162 on
Monday 80-26, and if passed will ban the use of double deck trailers
to transport any horse, no matter what its final destination
effective immediately.
State Representatives from the locations of these rodeos, Freeport,
Jim Saccia, (R), Peoria Rep. Schock,(R) and the Rep. from Rockford,
Winters, (R),all voted against the bill. Representatives Reiss (R)
also spoke out against the bill. Saccia has been the most outspoken
opposing the legislation and has introduced his own bill (HB4489)with
the same language and with language that would repeal the 2007
legislation that closed the horse slaughter plant in DeKalb. Saccia
and others are trying to move the focus of this legislation from a
horse transport issue to a horse slaughter issue. Low- end dealers,
rodeo stock contractors, and "killer buyers" utilize double deck
trailers. Double deck trailers are not designed, safety tested, and
manufactured for horses, nor are they marketed to the horse industry.
Background information on double deck trailers, including photos,
diagrams, video, statutes, violations, and convictions under state
and federal regulations, legislative history of the federal
regulations and more, can all be found at the Equine Protection
Network's website in the Transport Section.
Saccia's argument is the economic hardship for killer buyers
transporting horses long distances to slaughter. What Saccia fails to
understand is that it is against the Commercial Transportation of
Horses to Slaughter Act, Federal Regulations, Volume 66, No, 236,
published Dec. 7, 2001 to transport horses to slaughter in double
deck trailers. (the doubles ban went into effect 5 years from
effective date) Also according to the USDA,
"As stated previously, commercial shippers typically charge owners a
flat rate to transport their equines, so the possibility of fewer
equines per shipment should not result in less revenue for commercial
shippers."
Regarding Saccia's statements on overcrowding on single decks:
"Overcrowding can also occur in single-deck (also called straight-
deck) trailers, which are used to transport equines to a lesser
extent than double-deck trailers. The requirement concerning adequate
space could translate into fewer equines per conveyance."
Regarding questions on the number of equines carried on a double
versus a single or straight deck trailer: Pg. 63594:
"We acknowledge that double-deck trailers can carry more equines and
other livestock than single-deck trailers. We are allowing the
continued use of double-deck trailers for the next 5 years in order
to minimize economic losses to those dependent on the use of
doubledeck trailers.
Regarding the idea that doubles can be modified or that somehow a
double deck trailer can be constructed in the future that can
transport horses safely and humanely: Pg. 63594:
"We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely
transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided
into two or more stacked levels. As stated in the proposal, double-
deck trailers can continue to be used to transport other commodities,
including produce and livestock other than equines. Also, owners can
sell their serviceable trailers at fair market value to transporters
of commodities other than equines."
Questions from those opposing regarding how many doubles are
utilized. From pg 63613:
"In fact, it is estimated that double-deck trailers in general carry
equines no more than about 10 percent of the time they are in use."
As for Representatives Reiss questions as to whether or not the
horses know what deck they are on, and if they do not what does it
matter, the EPN's Christine Berry responds,
"I know that horses realize they are not in a van designed for horses
from the moment they are forced with electric cattle prods, whips, or
biting dogs into a dark trailer by means of a "trap door" in the rear
of the trailer, forced to lower their heads & jump down into the
lower deck. As they slip and fall on the slippery metal floors and
then slam their heads into the top deck as they fight to regain their
balance by raising their heads, I can assure you those horses know
that they are not on a van that is designed, safety tested,
manufactured, or marketed to the horse industry!"
Boland from Moline voted in favor of the bill.
Three Hills also has dates scheduled in Maryland (2006) and New York,
(1980) two states that have also banned the use of double deck
trailers to transport any horse, no matter what its final
destination.
Three Hills has continued to come to PA for the rodeo in Plymouth
Meeting, PA in September. The sky has not fallen on rodeo since they
cannot use doubles to transport horses in PA since 2001 and it will
not fall in IL when IL passes the IL Horse Transport Bill. The EPN
supports this legislation as currently drafted and has the support of
the commercial horse transportation industry, including the National
Horse Carriers Association, Brook Ledge, Drexler Horse Transport, C
and E Horse Transport, along with Stolen Horse International and The
Paper Horse Magazine. Equine Advocates, Arlington Park, and numerous
other organizations support this legislation that is in line with
accepted horse industry practices.
Illinois Dates
Peoria, Rockford, and Moline, IL in January
Galena, IL on July 4-5th
Freeport, IL on August 21st
Christine Berry
Equine Protection Network
www.SaveAmericasHor
www.HoofPAC.
2/27/08
Equine Protection Network - Horse Transport Information
Equine Protection Network
www.EquineProtectio
www.EquineProtectio
February 26, 2008
Horse Transport Information:
http://www.equinepr
IL & MD Horse Transport Laws
The IL Horse Transport Law passed its first committee hearing on
Thursday, February 21, 2007 unanimously with the amendment removing
the language that would have created the same loophole that Arlow
Kiehl used in NY to avoid arrest and enter into plea agreements with
lower fines until NY closed the loophole.
Please send your support and appreciation to Representative JoAnn
Osmond, (R) for introducing this long overdue legislation that will
protect the first responders who had to enter that double deck
trailer to remove the horses, and the horses themselves who are
forced to travel in trailers that are not designed, safety tested or
manufactured to transport horses.
Rep JoAnn Osmond,201-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
************
Court Date for IL Horse Crash
Keith O. Tongen, 49, Minnesota is charged with four Class A
misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and one Class B misdemeanor animal
owner duties violation charge. With possible penalties of one year in
prison and $1,000 in fines. The animal owner duties violation carries
a penalty of six months in the Lake County Jail.
The accident occurred Oct. 27, 2006 when a double deck trailer
hauling 59 draft horses from Indiana through Wadsworth, Ill. to
Minnesota overturned. A total of 17 horses died, either on the scene
or within days of the event due to accident-related injuries. The
remaining surviving horses were adopted.
The EPN urges supporters to attend the court proceedings to
demonstrate support for the prosecution of those responsible for the
horses being transported in a trailer not designed or manufactured
for horses.
The EPN is aware of crashes involving doubles in Colorado,
Connecticut, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and Canada. In at least one of the crashes, two people died as a
result of the crash. The common denominator is the fact that these
trailers are often overloaded and top heavy when carrying horses.
************
MD Horse Transport Law of 2006 Bans Double Deck Trailers- Cards
Available!
The MD Horse Transport Law of 2006 bans the use of double deck
trailers to transport horses and also specifies other safety
regulations regarding the transport of horses. The Equine Protection
Network has added MD Horse Transport Law Cards to our website in
addition to the NY, PA, and VT cards already available.
MD Horse Transport Law:
http://www.equinepr
ml
(File ends in "html" Copy & paste entire link into your browser)
The EPN urges the public to download a card and carry it in your car
so that if you see a double deck trailer with horses inside you have
a place to write down the license plate, location of the trailer,
description of the trailer to provide to 911 operators.
Three Hills Rodeo, Bernard, Iowa has a rodeo scheduled in July at the
Cecil County Fairgrounds in Fair Hill, MD. This same company's
drivers pled guilty and paid $5000.00 in fines in 2005 for violating
the PA Horse Transport Law. The EPN hopes that Three Hills does not
plan on violating the MD Horse Transport Law.
The EPN is at the Reading Horse and Pet Expo March 14 – 16th at the
Greater Reading Expo Center. The EPN has hooded sweatshirts and
hoodies supporting HR 503 available along with Save America's Horses
License Plate Holders. See you at the Expo!
www.horseandpetexpo
###
Christine Berry
Equine Protection Network
www.SaveAmericasHor
www.HoofPAC.
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