Comments on: Why do they kill horses with a broken leg?

By: Kym Lee

Kym Lee — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:54:36 +0000

I found your blog while stubling through google images last summer and replied to a post back in August. Since then, you along with a few of our customers, have inspired me to give back, so we started an equine rescue donation program to help save the 28,000+ horses that are euthanized each year in the US alone due to a condition of the hoof called laminitis. It is the ultimate killer of Barbaro. Once a horse gets laminitis in the hoof, they cannot bear weight and have to transfer the heavy load disporportionately to the other feet. This causes the delicate internal structures of the hoof to be disrupted, the coffin bone to rotate and the horse to no longer be able to stand (hence why you can’t have a three legged horse!). I hope you will share this video with your audience and encourage them to visit our rescue program under Nolan Hoof Plate on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheNolanHoofPlate?sk=app_214914035235331

Thanks for the inspiration!
Kym
http://youtu.be/Wap2oyijcFg

By: Raptor

Raptor — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Since dogs can survive with 3 legs, why not horses?

By: Donna Barstow

Donna Barstow — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:39:13 +0000

Kym, Thanks, will check that out. How wonderful that people are still working on this problem.

By: Donna Barstow

Donna Barstow — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:38:39 +0000

Welcome, thank you for that info on bears. I did a bear cartoon about how they keep bears in cages in China for their WHOLE LIFE, with a shunt permanently inserted into its belly for this useless Chinese pretent medicine. The bear groans as the bile is pulled out. Will post a link here when I upload it.

No, I don’t think it’s hilarious or cool. I didn’t notice what you did, but thought it was a terrible example of 2 enemies together.

By: Kym Lee

Kym Lee — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:24:21 +0000

I appreciated your blog comments. The equine industry is so vast and amazing, and yet the animal is often misunderstood. It walks the line between domesticated pet and livestock – and not many realize the differences. There are good products that support the hoof capsule almost as an external fixator, that can allow a horse to bear weight on the foot while a leg is being treated. The horse needs to bear weight so the foot can act as a necessary pump to restore blood flow up the leg. There is a good animated video on the website for the Nolan Hoof Plate called “Why It Works” that explains how the hoof functions in a healthy and unhealthy state, and how the external fixation the product provides can help – non-invasively. If there was more awareness of a product like this Barbaro might still be with us!

By: Welcome

Welcome — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:43:44 +0000

I just ran across the photo of the bear on the back of the horse while searching for something horse related. I just wanted to point out that if you look closely to the bear you will see that there is a large “piercing” in its nose as well as a rope hanging from it. Also, all teeth are missing from the bears mouth. All this is done when the bear is young and taken from the mother. A hot poker is rammed through the bears nostril and all the teeth are ripped from its mouth with no sort of anesthesia. Also, often times there nails/claws are removed (also done with no anesthesia). Bears are then used for horrific “entertainment” such as the picture you have posted as well as a practice called “bear dancing” which is when the rope is pulled and causes discomfort and therefore makes the bear standup. This practice is generally done in villages in India. Another practice that is done in Pakistan to these helpless bears is called “bear baiting” where the bears are tethered to the ground and trained fighting dogs are unleashed to attack and mutilate the bears as hundreds of people stand around to watch.
As an animal lover and extreme horse enthusiast myself, it absolutely appalls me that there would be such action that is done (bear on horses back) in this day and age, but it tears at my heart to know what is done to the bears. I’m sure this is a picture that was derived from Pakistan but to know that people look at this picture and think “oh, that’s hilarious!” or “that’s cool” is pretty sad.

By: Press

Press — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:01:43 +0000

Eight Belles couldn’t be saved. She broke BOTH of her front legs.

By: KERRY

KERRY — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 02:38:08 +0000

P.S. Turns out even the horizontal fractures can now be fixed by putting an internal stabilizing into the bone such as a rod until the bone knits again. Amazing.