Wordsmith Day, May 3.

cool!

That is cool. I can't be happy right now, though: the only filly in the Derby had to be put down after finishing a strong second. Farewell, Eight Belles.

I just read an article about this, Jackie, and while I know nothing about horses(and even less about veterinary science), I would think with all the technology available today, and the amount of money spent on these horses, there would be some way to save an animal in this situation. sheesh, we make little trailers for dogs who have lost use of their hind legs, why not some sort of hammock for the front end of a horse?

two words, eta: laminitis, Barbaro

-joe (you can't ask the horse, of course) friday

thanks, t.

'Plethora'; is plethora more overabundant than plenty or is it just more chique?

This phenomenen "the day of ...." worked its way down from the era/epoch of > to the age of > the week of > to the year of > to the day of, and we will no doubt go to the hour of > the minute of > to the second and split second of.

Talking of anxiety, Jackie, I hardly can ever look at those races even on TV. If at the summit of a race something goes wrong it's disaster. I saw it recently happen: one horse slipped and the whole top-speed-horde fell over eachother. A miracle that all horses and even the one jockie that went down under came out alive and not gravely damaged.

I'm glad Wordsmith had his day and I think horseracing is animal cruelty. I'm probably overstepping bounds here but... might as well call it dog fighting or fox hunting.

There's nothing more beautiful in the world than horses running free. I never understood how such strong beautiful animals can let us get away with deciding about their lifes.

wild horses

It's because we're more intelligent than they.

For all the good it's done us.

Horses are social, herd animals, though they're not as picky about who can belong in the pack as some canines are. They have a definite hierarchy in a herd, which is why stallions are the most problematical for humans to control. As to the running--they're born to do it. Prolly has something to do from back in the times when only the fastest escaped the wolves. They can be empathic, forming extra-close bonds with humans.
Racing, now--I can guarantee it's not done for the benefit of the horses, but I do believe there are some who enjoy it. There are a lot more protections for the horses now than in former years, but yes, they still get whipped. But--and I'm not saying there are NO jockeys who whip causing injuries--mostly it starts out as stinging (not cutting into the skin), and most horses learn pretty quickly to transfer the response to a sting of the whip to being lightly touched by the whip. By far, most of the riding signals are done by the jockey's hands and legs; use of the whip is reserved for the home stretch. If then.

Yes Jackie , horses are born to do the running. Which reminds me of a little episode from one and half score years ago.
A friend I was on holiday with was a good rider. She proposed a little outing with a group on horseback. I'd had about 10 lessons so I said why not.
Pleasantly slow step we started, then changing to a light trot when we reached the dunes. Then, through a narrow sandy descent at the vieuw of the wide beach the whole bunch exploded to a gallop. Instantly it became a matter of life and death, for we hadn't had the GALLOP yet.
I clung to the blanket under the saddle and God, frightened out of my wits I hung on till they regained the dunes and took up the light trot again. Funny thing is no one ever noticed as my unguided horse came last, slowed down by this clumsy rider.

I never had time to be surprised back then. Now I still am.

a little episode from a couple of ten score years ago

Four hundred years ago! And I thought I felt old!

Is a score a hundred years? Or ten? but or...........Pfffffff.

Say, thirty years ago. What's that?
I looked it up but counting is my weakness. ( and horseback riding)

>Is a score a hundred years?

no, but ten score is two hundred. (10 x 20)

thirty years ago. What's that?

One and a half score. Or one score and a decade ago.

Thanks, all clear now. One score is 20. (didn'd even need a calculator now)

Your grammar reminds me of someone...
picture
...quaint and charming it is...

That sounds and looks like a real nice compliment. I wish I had the flappy ears.