Did u see "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse" yet?

Question

i was bawling my eye's out! geez it's so so so so so so so sad! u must watch it!

*cry*

Answer 1

I saw it advertised but didn't catch when it was being shown.  Hopefully I'll be able to see it soon. :)

Answer 2

Yes I watched it. It was so sad. I kept crying. But deep down in my heart I understand that it was the right choice to euthanize him be cause no horse (or any other pet) owner would want their pet to live in pain and discomfort.

Answer 3

No, Melissa- I haven't had a chance to watch it, because I just moved to a new home and I don't yet have a satellite dish so I can watch TV. When I get a dish, though, I will be looking around for it. To ALL of the other writers in this column who are bickering at each other- PLEASE, PEOPLE, can't you at least make an effort to be civil to one another, if nothing else for Melissa's sake? This is supposed to be a place where people can have some fun and share ideas- not a battleground or a place to air personal problems in public. Some people seem to have forgotten the meaning of manners and civility. It really no longer matters if there was a suggestion of Barbaro's having a leg problem or not- and I don't believe there was one. As for the idea that Michael Matz changed the colt's training to "force" him into the Triple Crown races in pursuit of glory, anyone who believes that is nuts. I have been watching Michael and following his career for over 30 years, since I was 12, in fact- and I know from simple experience that this is just NOT how he operates. Michael is a true professional, and he is someone who, like the Jacksons, is NOT motivated by money. He CARES about the horses he trains, folks- and there is just NO getting around that fact. I can also say this: it wasn't money or glory that motivated Michael to walk into the burning wreckage of a downed plane and come out alive on the other side. It wasn't money that made him rescue 3 children, and his fiance- it was just the RIGHT THING TO DO !!!! He was lucky, and so were those kids- there were 113 other people who DIED that day. I do not know why Michael and those kids were spared- but I can say that if that wasn't the case, the odds are that we would never have seen Barbaro on the track at all- and if we did, we would not have had the kind of interest that the story generated. I do not like the personal attacks that keep appearing in this column. I wish people would start following the if you can't.... rule. We would all be better off.

Answer 4

That horse was worth more than anything he was winning that day i promise you that. They didnt do anything wrong with that boy i can promise you that. And during the last week of training He looked better than i had ever seen him before. All of us there for his training could tell that he was good to go with no problems. Stuff like that happens every single day in racing. Dont try to make more out of it then it is!!!

Answer 5

I watched it, taped it, and felt the sadness it invoked.  

I agree with Sherryn.  Horses don't mature until four years or more.

When I asked my former trainer what he thought about the Barbaro mishap, he felt that the trainer changed his training so as to build up more speed for that race, and that's what cost that great animal it's life.

Pressure for a Triple Crown made the horse alter course in it's training, and now they're left with no Barbaro.

Of course, it's easy to criticize when you don't own one, but I still agree with what Sherryn says.  

Too much pressure on young animals.

Answer 6

It was nice and I enjoyed it.  I didn't expect to cry as Barbaro broke down in the Preakness.  I mean I've watched it before on these internet videos and such...  but it was upsetting.  I was a little disappointed that it was only an hour.  I plan to get the dvd as it has more footage and interviews and stuff on it.

Sherryn, do you have any evidence at all that the leg problem was there before the Preakness?  I didn't know any evidence of that at all.  My TB mare was lame in her back right leg early last spring, and Barbaro looked nothing like she did.  He looked perfectly fine when he warmed up before the Preakness.  He was checked over before going back into the gate.  He was tested for any drugging.  But if you, Sherryn, happened to have worked with Barbaro and monitored his leg or anything like that, I'd certainly be interested in hearing any information that you have.

Melissa, make sure you see the Ruffian video this summer.  I'm not sure when it'll be on, but it will be ABC sometime in June.  You'll probably be bawling during it too...  she was such an amazing filly.

Answer 7

NEW Revised Edition:  Yeah, I watched it & it made me want to PUKE! By that, I mean it sickened me to watch because I think it could have all been avoided.  The best thing is the fact that BARBARO has opened up the hidden side of the race track for all of the public to see in a way that no human ever could!  His death will help others with shared knowledge of how the entire Industry needs an overhaul!   The film had many hidden agendas.  I say this because I tend to see things differently due to the 5 years that I spent living on the backlots of various race tracks & living in the tack rooms, which are the same as a stall for a horse except that they have a window & a door on them with a concrete or wood floor!  If you watch closely, you can see the film was navigated in order to conceal the fact that the leg "problems" were there BEFORE race day. The camera angles & footage that was used seemed to avoid certain areas of the horse, rider, & surroundings.   Nice try by the "industry" to make it look as if they actually  cared all that much about his so-called "welfare"!  I wish they had showed what happens to the horse AFTER it is euthanized.  I only hope that they don't push his brother as much as they pushed him to his melt-down.  The Derby should be for 4 year olds & up because a horses bones aren't fully formed all way through until they are around that age.  I feel the story touched upon a subject that people know very little about & that is how a well-intentioned owner/investor of a horse can be taken advantage of by the very people that they have put their trust in!  Many of these so-called "professionals" are nothing more than con artists themselves & many owners are bilked out of every last penney they have to their name in an effort to save their horse/investment.  The horse is seen differently by many people in the Industry & that is truly the saddest part of all!  Far too many people view them only as a "commodity" that is just another expendable risk, yet others view them as "pets", which they are not.  It's hard to find that "middle ground" & get in with the quality horse people who can keep a healthy balance for the horse & humans alike!  Anyway, that's why I said it made me sick because it seemed to leave out some very important information that the public seems to be shielded from!  My apologies for getting sucked into that other stuff.

Answer 8

yes the movie was wonderful

Boo hoo Sherryn.  boo hoo.  "someone didn't like my answer"  boo hoo

Answer 9

Yes,I did and I cried my eyes out.It was a good show and it brought the emotion right back.I think of "Barbaro" every day.I bought the Barbaro bracelet.