An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

sceptre — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:38:35 GMT

fb0252:

We're almost on the same page, but:

1. "trainer negligence" would then have to be re-defined to far broader parameters than what the industry and the Law presently accept.

2. You lost me with the "Scientific pre-race inspection for TELEVISED races". Whether or not the race happens to be televised, the risk is the same for the horse.

Dr. Gustafson:

Some worthy advice, but I'm afraid "husbandry" alone won't come close to solving EIPH. Recall that the S. African study was on S. African (not N. American) racehorses.

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

John from Baltimore — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:59:34 GMT

It's all about the money. If you read the story in this magazine on Dr. Bramlidge's speech he said that they are now breeding the horse for television and not for durability. This must be the politically correct way for saying they are breeding one shot wonders to win million dollar purses. Until you change the way horses are paid and duribility counts for something the breed won't get sounder. In my opinion the massive purses have lead as much to the unsoundness of the breed as drugs.

As for this data base why don't the regulators just come out and say you trainers are so low you will run a horse that can't make the course or your to dum to know it. Any trainer with any horse sence knows which horses he has which have problems or they should. Fines and penalties would be cheaper than a data base.

On the issue of claiming and returning horses that break down this is also backward. The industry needs to look at the way a person who goes through the expense of laying a horse off has a chance to recoup his expenses of laying the horse off before it can be claimed.

The way it is now it's tap and go, don't be the last guy stuck with the horse. The worst thing they ever did for the welfare of the horse was get rid of the 25% raise in claiming price to run after a claim.

And don't worry Eric about your friends and break downs, the H.B.P.A. can educate them on break downs while thier educating them on drugs.

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

Sid Gustafson DVM — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:03:16 GMT

It seems the presenters and industry continue to avoid focusing on the appropriate care of the stabled racehorse, which is necessary to race without drugs, as those trainers and breeders in Europe and Asia have demonstrated. Medication has engendered poor husbandry practices by facilitating substandard horsemanship, such as locking horses down 23 hours or so each day. The practice of stabling horses in an unenriched fashion contributes heavily to diminished pulmonary resilience and subsequent vulnerability to EIPH. Appropriate husbandry throughout a thoroughbreds development and training is necessary to develop and sustain soundness of wind and limb. Adequate locomotion, head-down grazing, and movement and activities throughout the day are necessary to establish and maintain pulmonary health. Unfortunately, no behaviorists or pulmonary health physiologists were invited. Sid Gustafson DVM

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

fb0252 — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:23:57 GMT

Break downs are primarily caused by trainer negligence.

Every fatal breakdown should trigger a steward's investigation for negligence and immediate probation with suspension if negligence is found. would stop 75% of this stuff.

Scientific pre-race inspection for televised races.

Minimum training standards for entry. ---and ur left with the 10% of fatal breakdowns that r bad luck.

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

anita b — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:45:13 GMT

Last week at Belmont, a horse named "A ROD" ran---well, he came out last and didn't improve. I think its time that owner/trainer find another career for A ROD. Maybe he is soured out on racing, maybe a bad day but that was not good for anyone watching the horse.

re: An Eye on the Summit - by Eric Mitchell

sceptre — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:12:50 GMT

Yes, Mr. Mitchell, here's where the focus should be-on the safety and welfare of the horse. The goal, however, should be this in itself, and not as a means for attracting more fans/revitalizing an industry.