Good morning, fellow Fans!

(Wish I could have been first ;-)

Here's hoping the rest of the early morning crew is up and about soon. Wishing all a good day, without the cold rain we have here in the Downeast this morning.

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever

Hiya, FsOB! Marg, it is cold here on the still dark banks of the Thames. Please keep the cold rains up north, OK?

To Alex & Wendy, the postings at 11:18 & 11:21 AM on 10/22 need to be zapped. Those with nothing better to do apparently were out in force on this site at the end of yesterday's comments page, too.

Wishing each of you a safe & productive day!

#### To Barb in AZ, I agree with your suggestion last night re. nominating someone we all know. I can't take the lead on it, but would be willing to write a letter of support, if any are needed.
To Barb M. in FLA: Over Enough must be so happy to be a "free man" again after his lengthy recuperation. Please keep us updated about the neglected and abused bulldog's recovery.
To Harriette: Please let us know how to purchase a copy of your book. ####

Three cheers for Alex, way cool!
Hope to hear more about him!

YAWN, BLINK, BLINK.
Need Red Blob....slippers. Berry cold here this am. SNOW in some areas--nothing to write home about, but still annoying. Up way early at 6:30 EST to get all done and over to my Dad's for a doc appt this morning. YAWN>

Lub to all FoBs and hang in there. Better things are coming. And we will get that Horse slaughter bill passed, by God. Maybe all us wimmins should be on testosterone to get ready for the task. Grrrrrr.

Special love and support to Mary S and Sherman.
HEY to eberybuddy!!!
And thank you Alex, for all you do (and Wendy too. Being an Admin is not fun.)

xxoo:j
COURAGE

Alex,
Congratulations on your new horse friend,a great thing you have done,I applaud you.

Good Tuesday morning everyone!
A special hello to the morning crew!

Jonna - SNOW????? Yikes! It's early for that.
I guess you don't want to hear that it's still hot and we're needing the AC here in the sunshine state.

I like your optimism "better things are coming". Yep, let's hope it is soon.

Dee - thank you for your rainbows every day!!

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Harriette,
Congratulations on your book,will keep my eye on NY Times best seller list,

###Jonna/Janice - Yes, snow in parts of Maine, too. Mostly up in the mountains but they say we might see a few flakes here in the foothills today. Just rain on my way to work.

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever

???????? (Praying that this horse will be scratched at the last minute if he's not healed up...)

Mast Track in Breeders’ Cup despite hoof injury
By MIKE FARRELL, For The Associated Press

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP)—Mast Track will race in the Breeders’ Cup after trainer-breeder-owner Bobby Frankel decided a hoof injury was not severe enough to sideline the colt.

The winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup in June, Mast Track is 6-1 in the $1 million Dirt Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita.

His status was jeopardized by a quarter crack, a break in the hoof wall.

Quarter cracks were big news in the spring when Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown lost his bid for the Triple Crown. The since-retired colt was pulled up in the Belmont Stakes while running on a quarter crack shielded by an acrylic patch.

The injury to Mast Track is not nearly as bad, Frankel said.

“It’s a small one,” he said. “You could even say it’s tiny.”

Frankel won’t have the crack patched, confident it will heal by race day.

“He doesn’t know he’s got a quarter crack,” Frankel said. “If you push on it, he knows. Otherwise, he could care less. I’m going to train him like he doesn’t have one.”

###
Nancy - I had the same reaction upon reading this story. Now, I'm NOT a trainer and I would never deign to say I had more knowledge but this statement has me worried..."I'm going to train him like he doesn't have one." I will be praying for Mast Track.

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever

##Bad decision, Frankel...he doesn't know he has a quarter track...right...

Geez - now I'm worried as Frankel is also the trainer of Precious Kitten, who belongs to the Jacksons.

(Thanks, Wendy/Alex!)

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever

The line in the article about Mast Track that most concerned me: "If you push on it, he knows..."

Like Marg, I don't claim to be a trainer but it would seem to me that "pushing on it" would be the equivalent of "hoof to track" repeated throughout the course of the race!

Forgot to say that I'm glad to see Marg & Harriette are also concerned about Mast Track and decisions made on his behalf...makes me feel slightly less neurotic!

###Joe Shelton is another excellent candidate for Horse Hero. So many of YOU out there who are doing the heroic deeds every day.

###Snow in Nebraska too--an email friend of mine said flurries are expected in parts of the state. She's ex-AF and lives near Offutt; said the ground is too warm for anything to stick, but it has been raining and was chilly yesterday.

Frost on the pumpkin and all that.

###Blob is ready--old and green and no hood, but I have a hoody sweatshirt I can wear under it. Semi-blob, maybe. ;o)

###No jury duty for me--called the magic (and toll-free) number last night and our group has been dismissed. Of course, the message ends with, "You will receive another summons," just the threat (;o), no date given.

###Good days to all, good reports from ALL vets and shoers, and prayers for everyone. Will not watch the Breeders Cup. Am already putting in my wishes for EVERYONE running to come home safely.

Good Morning Barbaro

How are you and Gallant Secret and the twins? bet they are really growing....and we know you are very happy and we love you and we miss you.

Please nudge us forward...we are speaking for your brothers and sisters...trying to get the ones on Capitol HIll to listen to the will of the people..and pass the anti-horse slaughter bill.

Good Morning Family/Fans of Barbaro

PLEASE CALL, FAX, EMAIL...PLEASE....our horses and all animals need us....we get it....we know love, we know compassion, and we always care.

Please help and remember all of the rescues, please read the db...

Our Fallen Angels, the ones suffering human or animal, and our wildlife...and always our loving family.

Have a nice hump day....

###
Good Morning Alex....excited about your horse...

Good Morning Tim and Fair Hill.

###
Our Fallen Angels...we are here...always.

####
Congratulations Harriette on your book.

Jonna...thanks for the courage you give us everyday...you are a sweetie.

and....FOBS...ALL OVER THE COUNTRY....YOU ARE SO SPECIAL AND LOVED...AND YOU ARE ALL ANGELS ON THIS EARTH...THANK YOU.

I Love You So A Lot So Angel Janice. You Are In My Heart So (8) A Lot So........You Touch My Heart (8) So A Lot So........For Being A So, So So Very Beautiful Angel On This Earth.........

All, All All Angelic Beautiful Glowing Rainbows To You.........

Affirmed

All, All All So Glowing (8) Angel Harriette's Book. Many Beautiful Glowing Rainbows.......

Affirmed

Leaving for appointment with Hans GP at 9am.Will we receive the answers needed to proceed???

Please pray for GOOD answers and speedy solutions.

###
Alex
You are and always will be our HERO!!! However there is no doubt that YOU deserve an AWARD!!!

###
Sandra and Harriette
WE WANT COPIES of your books!!!!
SOON....we hope????? YES????

HUGS and love to ALL

Hooray! 52 horses saved this week from the slaughterhouse. Thanks to all who helped 4C4H and Equineangel to save these beautiful horses in PA & NV. Check out their pictures on the ABR.

Alex---perhaps Florida should be your next stop. No long johns needed there.

the weather is getting disgusting here in MO too. Its too soon, I am not ready!

Cold and a wind chill (40MPH wind) factor of 30 here in Lubbock today. Well, Im tired of winter-on to summer. ##Maribel, stuff moves slow. It may be 6 months before 'Conversations With My Dog" comes out. ###Harriette, you said your book isnt for kids. Well, there is only a 13 yeaar old here and while he doesnt read he does eat the pages. This is only started lately. I think he is going back to puppyhood. ##Am ready to start hitting our politicans with our Barbaro bill. We only get stronger and more determined as we get tougher all the time.

Alex - Thank you for the interview as well as the link.

I hope that many HPI Account holders will take time out from their wagering this weekend to donate reward points for cash donations to Long Run.

Cheers

Keith

ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOE.
What would we do without him...lucky Cathy, huh.
**************************************************
Wednesday, October 22nd... In the last few months up our driveway come race horses sired by All Thee Power. Avenue Of Flags. Comet Shine. Favorite Trick. Fly Till Dawn. General Meeting. More Than Ready. Old Topper. Takin It Deep. Tricky Creek. Unusual Heat.

In the last few months up our driveway come older horses, some retired broodmares, by sires Bertrando. Corwyn Bay. Epic Power. General Meeting. Lost Soldier. Robyn Dancer.

There are all the time e-mails saying if ever we get a horse by a certain sire, please let them know. A reader in Kansas wants a horse sired by Swiss Yodeler. A reader writes she would walk all the way from Alberta, Canada just to adopt a horse sired by Bet Twice.

So I try to keep track of pedigrees, just in case a good home becomes available for a particular bred horse.

It is a cool and breezy Wednesday morning, still dark, and already the barn and round pens have been grained. Later we could be 76 degrees. Alicia Keys on the cd player. I am rambling. Delicious coffee is from Peets, with three spoons of praline cream. 122 horses on our ranch. We are shoulder to shoulder, hock to hock. The No Vacancy sign lit high in our sky, yet still horses make that long walk up our driveway.

There is Lost, a mare named after the television show, and because her sire is Lost Soldier. A plain bay, and often Lost is lost in the crowd. There is Berta, a mare named after the house keeper on Two And A Half Men, and because her sire is Bertrando. A dark bay, and Berta is in love with Pony Boy. There is Dancer, a bay mare named after So You Think You Can Dance, and because her sire is Robyn Dancer. If Dancer ever danced it would be a miracle. She has severe arthritis.

We greeted Corwyn Belle, a little mare by Corwyn Bay, and she is done having babies. We are calling her Belle, and several years ago there was another Belle walking our fields, but she has since been adopted. The new Belle is cute as can be. Out to our south field she goes in strong winds, but later she has her white face in our bedroom window. Belle jumped a fence. Not a scratch on her, and the fence is still up. She is personality plus.

We greeted Hot Stuff, and we named her Hot Stuff because her sire is Unusual Heat. Several years ago there was another Hot Stuff walking our fields, but she has since been adopted. The new Hot Stuff has a swollen knee. She is 3 and loves peppermints. Hot Stuff dragged the poop rake into her stall and broke it. Thank you so much Hot Stuff.

122 horses. Both Garros and Logan have multiple personalities. So far I have counted 36 different personalities inside of Logan. We have put in a call to Dr. Phil.

By now you have no doubt clicked off and moved on to Fugly. I should go to work. Tampa Bay against Philly tonight. Always a tingly feeling with autumn. Thanksgiving a month away. And Cathy and I have a million things to be Thankful for.

Joe

Pictures from 2004

Kate,
Thank you for letting us know that all 26 horses that Equineangel was trying to save from slaughter are also safe. It is amazing that we have saved 52 horses in one week. Looks like its time to update our total horses saved!!
Thank you to everyone who helped with donations, good thoughts, prayers, homes or just bumping the threads.

###
Patty....is not that wonderful that many horses saved....wish we could save a million.

FOBS...you show what miracles are about in a world that desparately needs them....

Pray for our nation....get out and vote....vote for leaders that will listen and do the will of the people....those who will help us with our horses and animals....and those who will help heal our nation.

PLEASE CALL, FAX, EMAIL....we are their voices.

Maribel, please let us know how Hans appointment went. We are all thinking of yole.

Sending All, All All My Love........Prayers......
...Rainbows........To Angel Barbaro........Our
Angel Horses.........Barbaro's Famblee Of So, So
So Beautiful Angels.........Angel Alex........
Angel Wendy........Your Angelic Hearts Of Love...
.......Your Glowing Wings Of Love........God's
Glowing Angels On This Earth........I Love You
So A Lot So........You Are In My Heart So (8)
A Lot So.........

An Angel Of Love

Angel Lou Ann........Your Glowing Wings Of Love..
.......

The Wings Of Prayer

Angel Maribel, Angel Hans, Angel Jonna And Heart,
Angel Loretta, Angel Joan Roya, Angel Renee, Angel Barb AZ, Chunky And Punky, Precious Angel
153, Angel Lynne And Murphy, Angel Harriette,
Angel Barb And Nala, Angel Margie MN And Lucky,
Angel Tammie And Chessie, Angel Jane And Lukas,
Angel C.J., Angel Adam LaCosta And Angel Lisa,
Angel Dawn, Star, Angel Momo, Angel Anne And
Angel Terry Brennan, Angel Mary S. And Sherman,
Big Brown, Angel Sherry And Amigo, Angel Chico,
Angel Sandra And Chief, Angel Skyler, Angel
Otherlyn, Angel Cheryl And Reggie, Angel Laurie
H. And Bart, Angel Stephanie, Angel Rob, Angel Tony, Mast Track, Angel Joe And Angel Cathy,
Angel Jim Gath, Angel Padme A'Tea, Barbaro's Angels........God's Love For You.........From His Heart Of Love.........To Your Angelic Hearts Of Love........Angel Barbaro And His Angel Frens
Are With You..........

All, All All Glowing Conversations With My
Dog........Divine Connection..........

Mast Track

God's Divine Light Of Healing........
Grazing.........

Seek And Ye Shall Find In Rainbows

An Angel
Angel Alex
For All His Care, Dedication And Love
For Our Angel Horses
Glowing........

Angels On This Earth
Barbaro's Angels
Your Wings Of Love.........

Angel Connections
Mr. And Mrs. Roy Jackson
Dr. Dean Richardson "The Wizard Of Oz"
Mr. Michael Matz
Angel Edgar
Angel Peter
Angel Eduardo
Angel Tim And Angel Penny
Angel Joe And Angel Cathy
Glowing Angels........

God's Angels
Angel Barbaro And His Angel Frens
Their Wings
Their Hooves
Glowing
Flying With The Very Best........

God Loves All Of You
For Who You Are And What You Do.........

Angels.......
Heroes........

Beautiful Visions......
Beautiful Creations.......

Glowing..........

In Halos.........

Affirmed

((((((((((((((((((MARIBEL))))))))))))))))))))))))
KEEPING YOU AND hANS IN GOOD THOUGHTS AND PRAYER FOR RESOLUTION TO HIS PAIN.

One of Another Chance 4 Horses' volunteers has created a gorgeous deck of cards featuring rescue horses that have come through AC4H.

Proceeds go directly to the horses to continue to rescue and sustain them.

Please check them out! Here is a link to them:

Gorgeous Rescue Horse Cards to benefit AC4H

Won't you help give a rescue horses Another Chance?

Lorri

Here is Alex's interview...he is so frakkin modest, and I want everyone to see what he says. (I know this is long, but it's a very good, concise read on our situation in the US, and efforts that will be going more deeply into CN as well....
***************************************************
On Sunday afternoon at Woodbine, Triple Dead Heat was fortunate to sit track side with Alex Brown to discuss the current state of the anti-horse slaughter campaign.

For many of you Alex Brown needs no introduction, but for those not in the know, Brown is an exercise rider for Steve Asmussen at Woodbine and is responsible for saving more than 2500 horses and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the fight against horse slaughter.

TDH: What does Canada need to do to regulate, or stop, horse slaughter?

AB: I don't know how you can regulate it effectively. I think certainly on the breeding end we need more responsible breeding. We need breeders, who once they've sold their horses, to track them. There are ways to track thoroughbreds to make sure they don't end up in a bad spot.

I also think there should be a bit of a tax on breeding that can go into a fund to support horses in retirement - and that serves as disincentive to reckless breeding as well - as well as to raise the money to support Long Run and other retirement programs.

TDH: I've heard of the retirement programs at Long Run and the Stronach Stables owned Adena Springs…can you tell us about some others?

AB: Long Run is pretty cool as they are a Woodbine based program and help retire and adopt out horses that have run at Woodbine and at Fort Erie. Adena Springs deals only with Stronach 's own horses, but it's a good model. If owners had their own rehab program then that would eliminate a lot of problems. What Stronach is doing with that program is a good example for other owners, but it's not like he takes in any kind of horse like the Long Run does.

Phase 2 Thoroughbreds, based in Fort Erie, they try to serve more as a bloodstock agent for horses that run out of Fort Erie and can serve as a good way to get horses out of a bad spot.

A lot of individuals are also trying to retire horses and re-train them on their own to re-sell the horse. That work is also very important.

TDH: What comment do you have on the Suffolk Downs ban on horsemen who sell horses to slaughter.

AB: There are a number of racetracks that have an anti-slaughter policy now. I certainly think it sends a strong signal that the industry does care, or at least parts of the industry. The problem with those policies however is how do you track the horses coming off the track and going to slaughter?

In effect, if Woodbine had that policy and I went to Olex (a horse auction in Kitchener, Ontario) on a Tuesday and saw a racehorse there, that would create tremendous problems for the horsemen who sent that horse to auction. Because of that, a horseman that wants to send a horse to kill will no longer send it to auction. The horse will instead go directly to a feed lot or kill pen. The unintended consequence of this kind of policy is that some of these horses go underground and the advantage of a kill auction is that people can find these horses and rescue them. If you get a situation where they're now avoiding kill auctions, we don't have a shot at getting them.

From a marketing standpoint, what Suffolk Downs has done is terrific - from a practical standpoint, I'm not absolutely sold on how it works yet and I know of examples in the north east of the U.S where these horses are going into feed lots rather than direct to kill auction. It's very difficult as i think the policies are put in place for the right reasons and I do appreciate that for sure.

TDH: What can Woodbine do to help the cause?

AB: Woodbine leads the way in terms of its affiliation with the Long Run, essentially as far as i can figure out, Woodbine is the first racetrack to formally sponsor an adoption program. Can it do more? Absolutely, any racetrack can do more. And there are probably lots of ways to make that happen, and especially a racetrack funded with lots of casino money. Having said that, I think Woodbine leads the way. The other thing is that horsemen here really do care.

All the horsemen I talk to are very anti horse slaughter. No doubt in my mind. I think giving them a better way to get their message out is a good thing. People look at us in horse racing from the outside and think well, we are not good people, that we are anti-horse and we use and abuse. The reality is that these horsemen care, and when they heard I'd be going to a kill auction and see a race horse, they say, that's not the way it should be . They shouldn't be going to slaughter and each horseman i come across here says the same thing.

TDH: What are some of the challenges the campaign faces?

AB: We're up against considerable challenges to make a difference. The pro slaughter lobbies are very powerful and have lots of money and any time you want to affect change, it's a lot more expensive than maintaining the status quo.

What we're trying to do by ending horse slaughter has never been done anywhere. As wrong as horse slaughter is, it's pretty much legal everywhere.

TDH: Can you give us a brief recap of the situation?

AB: There were three U.S slaughterhouses in 2006, two in Texas and one in Illinois, and essentially state sponsored legislation was passed in Texas and Illinois which effectively ended horse slaughter in the U.S., but in reality all it really did was stop horse slaughter in those two states and horses are now being transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. The majority of horses slaughtered in Canada are coming in from the U.S..

The other side of that is it wouldn't be so difficult for another state, such as South Dakota, to open up a new slaughterhouse.

TDH: The U.S. Bill (H.R. 6598) for The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 against horse slaughter was approved by judicial counsel at the end of September. Will the bill make it through congress?

AB: Sadly I think the bills are all dead. It's a two year cycle and we are at the end of the second year. We get these little wins at the end but they're not really going to amount to much. However we're still trying and you don't give up until the last day of congress because you never know what might happen, but in effect it's done for this cycle. That's one of the reasons I'm in Canada. While we work on stuff in the U.S, why not see what is happening in Canada and work on stuff here.

TDH: What do you think needs to happen in Canada?

AB: They need a bill here same as in the U.S to end the practice. I am meeting with someone next week to start to discuss getting a bill sponsored by an MP and try to get the ball rolling.

TDH: Do you still enjoy the work you are doing?

AB: As a horseman who has worked with horses my entire life, it's fun to be doing what is essentially the right thing.

TDH: What bothers you the most about the situation as it stands?

AB: The inhumanity of getting a horse from racetrack wherever to slaughterhouse wherever can be as much as 3000 miles. They go through the kill auctions, feeds lots, traveling in double-deckers and they're not used to that. The whole process is completely inhumane. Then the process of slaughter itself is inhumane for the horse and not designed for the unique characteristics of the horse.

There are so many arguments against horse slaughter that whichever one you want to pick is good.

PROLOGUE

I received an email from Alex on Tuesday night that said:

"Keith, i just bought a horse at OLEX :)"

Add one more horse saved to an already impressive resume.

* * *

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Visit Alex Brown Racing and read about the issues and get involved.

Visit Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society and adopt a horse or volunteer.

Visit Phase 2 Thoroughbreds and help a race horse find a second career.

Donate funds directly from your HorsePlayerInteractive account to the Long Run Retirement Society. 1500 points can be redeemed for a $5 donation.
Posted by Keith McCalmont at 9:58 PM ShareThis

Doctors appt got changed to 3pm....
We have just now returned but we have no new news to report!!! Tests still not back yet!!!!
I had my cholesterol tested.
GOOD NEWS...I was at total cholesterol 6.8 and through strict control and behaving myself I am now down to total cholesterol of 4.7!!!!! That is with no drugs....

Going out for dinner to friends house.Hans has some new meds for his pain so hopefully THEY WILL WORK!!! Doc said some heart patients live with pain for the rest of their lives!! I pray that Hans is not one of those!!!

Will keep you posted on Hans progress!!

####
Sandra and Harriette
We look forward to your books with great anticipation!! It will be the high point of a very stressful year for me!! Can't wait dear frens!!!

HUGS if you only knew how much I love you ALL!!!
YOU ARE THE BEST FAMBLEE!!!

Have been busy today. Don't even know if I have been on, or posted, although I read here for a while.

The dew point here is below zero. Your lips are dry and chapped, and you can't drink enough water to stay hydrated. We have several cases of water poisoning a year here, people who actually drink too MUCH water, diluting their electrolytes to the point that they die of heart failure, due to the calcium/potassium ratio. I had never heard of water poisoning (too much water) before I moved here (1990.)

Anyway, wishing everybody well. Please stop in and light a few candles for Barbaro.

Thanks.

###Robyn: My heartfelt sympathies to you on the devastating new of the holey armpit in your pink blob.

Our hearts are broken. Of course, the armpit of your BLOB is broken, and that is worser.

My green blob is balding and stringy, but so far, no holey pits.

Again, sympathies. Should we light candles?

###Alex, what is the name of your horse?? Thanks for all you do for us silly folks.