tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post6033165392562322023..comments2024-03-29T07:36:11.091+00:00Comments on THE SMALL THINGS: Triumph and tragedy; a quick digest.Tania Kindersleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355967725006605825noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post-80319301420689753072012-04-16T07:27:26.859+01:002012-04-16T07:27:26.859+01:00Anything you love has the capacity to break your h...Anything you love has the capacity to break your heart. It's the price.<br /><br />How wonderful that Pigeon likes chasing balls. Her eyes are just lambent. Winston plays "keepies off" (where half the game is getting the throw toy off him), Molly couldn't care less and Fearghus just looks at you with his lordly "you threw it, you get it" air....Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08181307209370955942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post-11608449084149111312012-04-15T17:44:04.791+01:002012-04-15T17:44:04.791+01:00Reading -- and writing -- from Florida (visiting f...Reading -- and writing -- from Florida (visiting family). By now the race has been run & the rest is history, as "they" say.<br />I always feel so split. These horses are such tremendous and so terribly delicate creatures! It always tears at me when one has to be "put down"...Pat (in Belgium)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02367089351412953926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post-12330341234164169452012-04-14T22:26:41.803+01:002012-04-14T22:26:41.803+01:00That was one spectacular finish, but so sad to los...That was one spectacular finish, but so sad to lose two nice horses. Now remembering why I stopped watching jump races many years ago. That's not said condescendingly; flat racing over here has major problems in the loss department--problems I can't excuse either to myself or anyone else--so I have no soapbox to stand on. <br /><br />So many of the racing troubles in the U.S. relate to drugs and to the way some people handle their horses when big money is involved (or, in other words, human nature at its worst). At least in steeplechasing, that is much less of a factor, something I appreciate very much.<br /><br />Tania, is there any talk of modifying the jumps or length of races? It wouldn't eliminate injuries, but perhaps it would help for the ones which occur when the horses get so tired that they can't do it well. I know the great races are tests of a horse's heart and ability, but in the end, is it worth it? Where does sportsmanship cross the line?<br /><br />By no means mean to sound huffy; even with the things that go on over here which make me want to strangle the people with no integrity, I can't help loving racing ... loving the horses, the feel of being at the track, the whole noble business of it (because it CAN be noble; it generally is for the horses themselves).<br /><br />Bird<br />PS Was hollering like crazy for Katie Walsh ;-).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post-41802330722836103432012-04-14T21:10:11.284+01:002012-04-14T21:10:11.284+01:00Sad for people, but horses have lives well lived t...Sad for people, but horses have lives well lived too, and seems they enjoyed theirs. <br />Just had nine teenagers camping in the garden and wondered where they had all gone at one point ( the silence was deafening)- they had all trooped off to visit Mary horse in the next field and chat to her. (aha! so thats where the carrots went!)<br />Horses and humans, they just go together.Hecketyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06065779986583259061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1365244084462704027.post-26287820263725182352012-04-14T20:59:28.727+01:002012-04-14T20:59:28.727+01:00I made a bit on Katie Walsh coming third, whoop wh...I made a bit on Katie Walsh coming third, whoop whoop, but then heard about Synchronised and According To Pete and the elation evaporated. Mooched off to to the pub to spend my winnings with The Husband and The Dog. Husband and I very pleased there is no such thing as West Highland White Terrier racing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13702475308562601190noreply@blogger.com