Comments on: Wake up and smell the horse manure http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:59:35 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-265585 Gina Spadafori Wed, 14 May 2008 14:21:35 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-265585 Shane Sellers has been pushing for reform for a long time. The HBO documentary "Jockey" (2004, <a href=http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/jockey/synopsis.html rel="nofollow">here's more info</a>) focused on his activism and on former jockey Randy Romero fighting for his life from healthy problems likely caused by a career spent keeping his weight down. It's well worth catching this documentary, if you can. Shane Sellers has been pushing for reform for a long time. The HBO documentary “Jockey” (2004, here’s more info) focused on his activism and on former jockey Randy Romero fighting for his life from healthy problems likely caused by a career spent keeping his weight down.

It’s well worth catching this documentary, if you can.

]]> By: VJ http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-265581 VJ Wed, 14 May 2008 14:06:18 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-265581 Some of you may be interested in this. Read in my local paper this morning that retired jockey, Shane Sellers, has a book "Freedom's Rein" where he is hoping the public will examine not only the industry treatment of animals, but the riders, as well. He states what people aren't seeing on television are the young jockeys who are dying as a result of eating disorders. His quote "This is an ugly sport". "I'm done and I'm glad." "I would be embarrassed to be a part of it now". His book reveals what jockeys must do to keep their weight down. Some of you may be interested in this. Read in my local paper this morning that retired jockey, Shane Sellers, has a book “Freedom’s Rein” where he is hoping the public will examine not only the industry treatment of animals, but the riders, as well. He states what people aren’t seeing on television are the young jockeys who are dying as a result of eating disorders. His quote “This is an ugly sport”. “I’m done and I’m glad.” “I would be embarrassed to be a part of it now”. His book reveals what jockeys must do to keep their weight down.

]]> By: Deanna http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-263104 Deanna Fri, 09 May 2008 17:24:57 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-263104 Gina -- bravo!! Gina — bravo!!

]]> By: slt http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-263026 slt Fri, 09 May 2008 12:50:28 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-263026 Comment by Deb — May 8, 2008 @ 11:21 pm Wow! It appears that the horse was raced more than his hooves could handle. But instead of resting him so he could recover, or retiring him due to having feet that break down under the stress of racing, they simply slathered on gobs of super glue. And apparently the whole thing is legal! I guess when people buy his offspring, they can get a complimentary tub of glue along with the pedigree. Comment by Deb — May 8, 2008 @ 11:21 pm

Wow! It appears that the horse was raced more than his hooves could handle. But instead of resting him so he could recover, or retiring him due to having feet that break down under the stress of racing, they simply slathered on gobs of super glue. And apparently the whole thing is legal! I guess when people buy his offspring, they can get a complimentary tub of glue along with the pedigree.

]]> By: Deb http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262921 Deb Fri, 09 May 2008 06:21:57 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262921 Keep those subsidies coming oh gullible tax payers, so more horses can be bred like this: the magic of 'bondo' aka Big Brown's feet. http://tinyurl.com/64akq6 Keep those subsidies coming oh gullible tax payers, so more horses can be bred like this: the magic of ‘bondo’ aka Big Brown’s feet. http://tinyurl.com/64akq6

]]> By: Mary http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262816 Mary Fri, 09 May 2008 01:59:33 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262816 Not only am I an animal lover, I'm a tax payer. And I object to tax breaks for this industry with its callous attitude. Senate Agriculture Committee contact info: Senate Agriculture Committee 328A Senate Russell Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2035 202-228-2125 Not only am I an animal lover, I’m a tax payer. And I object to tax breaks for this industry with its callous attitude.

Senate Agriculture Committee contact info:

Senate Agriculture Committee

328A Senate Russell Office Building
Washington, DC
20510

202-224-2035
202-228-2125

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262804 Gina Spadafori Fri, 09 May 2008 01:45:33 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262804 I'm really happy you mentioned the tax break in the "farm" bill for race-horse owners. What a boondoggle. Thanks for the information! And remember, folks: Snail mail letters, faxes and phone calls count for more than e-mails in such cases. Phone calls are easy, and the people who answer the phone polite. So you be, too! I’m really happy you mentioned the tax break in the “farm” bill for race-horse owners. What a boondoggle.

Thanks for the information!

And remember, folks: Snail mail letters, faxes and phone calls count for more than e-mails in such cases. Phone calls are easy, and the people who answer the phone polite. So you be, too!

]]> By: Mary http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262788 Mary Fri, 09 May 2008 01:20:43 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262788 Money is the only thing that gets these people's attention. According to today's USA Today (5-8-08) the TB industry currently enjoys $93 million of tax breaks. This gift is given to the racing industry under the Farm Bill, which is now under re-consideration. The entire USA Today article can be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/6kkhpg Excerpt: >>Final figures were still in flux Wednesday, but the numbers Harkin was talking about would begin to phase out subsidies for farmers with annual income above $950,000, or $1.9 million per married couple. >>That's better than the $2.5 million maximum for an individual farmer now, but it's not the reasonable $200,000 annual income limit President Bush proposed or the $500,000 he'd reportedly settle for. And the bill would do nothing to reduce or end the $40,000 a year in "direct payments" ($80,000 a couple) that go to many farmers whether they plant a crop or not. >>Nor would the proposal limit dubious giveaways such as a $93 million tax break for thoroughbred race horses, or a price support program that protects U.S. sugar cane and sugar beet farmers. >>> I can't think of any good reason that this industry should receive a tax break at all. There is obviously too much greed in it already. Senator Tom Harkin is the Agriculture Committee Chairman. I have already emailed him with my opinion. He can be contacted through his website at: https://harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm Money is the only thing that gets these people’s attention.

According to today’s USA Today (5-8-08) the TB industry currently enjoys $93 million of tax breaks. This gift is given to the racing industry under the Farm Bill, which is now under re-consideration.

The entire USA Today article can be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/6kkhpg

Excerpt:
>>Final figures were still in flux Wednesday, but the numbers Harkin was talking about would begin to phase out subsidies for farmers with annual income above $950,000, or $1.9 million per married couple.

>>That’s better than the $2.5 million maximum for an individual farmer now, but it’s not the reasonable $200,000 annual income limit President Bush proposed or the $500,000 he’d reportedly settle for. And the bill would do nothing to reduce or end the $40,000 a year in “direct payments” ($80,000 a couple) that go to many farmers whether they plant a crop or not.

>>Nor would the proposal limit dubious giveaways such as a $93 million tax break for thoroughbred race horses, or a price support program that protects U.S. sugar cane and sugar beet farmers. >>>

I can’t think of any good reason that this industry should receive a tax break at all. There is obviously too much greed in it already.

Senator Tom Harkin is the Agriculture Committee Chairman. I have already emailed him with my opinion. He can be contacted through his website at: https://harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm

]]> By: slt http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262678 slt Thu, 08 May 2008 22:01:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262678 The stats on Thoroughbred catastrophic injuries work out (if I did the math right) to roughly 2 NBA players being euthanized on the court due to injuries each and every regular season. Wow! The stats on Thoroughbred catastrophic injuries work out (if I did the math right) to roughly 2 NBA players being euthanized on the court due to injuries each and every regular season. Wow!

]]> By: catmom5 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/08/wake-up-and-smell-the-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-262628 catmom5 Thu, 08 May 2008 21:02:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2468#comment-262628 Sounds like they still don't get it! Thank you for keeping the issue in front of people's eyes. Something has to change! Sounds like they still don’t get it! Thank you for keeping the issue in front of people’s eyes. Something has to change!

]]>