Just when I think I’m out . . . They pull me back in!
Ever since the death and /or disappearance of Boone (my race horse) I swore I was done with horse racing. Yes unlike some it was/is a passion of mine and not just a hobby or a way to make a living. So why give up on it? It was always a hard business for me to even be involved in. There was always so much drama and to many back stabbers, liars, crooks, thieves, assholes, druggies, drunks, and those who treat horses with abuse and more like their property instead of a living breathing creature.
Your probably wondering “then why was I involved?”. Long story short my grandpa was into harness racing back in it’s glory days 50’s 60’s and I believe until the early 70’s. It was he who took me to my first race at the Greene County Fair when I was around 7 or 8. I was horrified and brought to tears when the drivers would whip the horses to get them to go faster coming down the stretch. Later I was told some drivers hit the shaft of the race bike with the whip so the horse knows to go faster. Wasn’t until I owned a horse that I found out many drivers are down right jackasses who will leave welt marks or even cuts on a horse from the whip. This never happened to mine. Yea he may have gotten the whip taken to him quite a bit, but God help any man who left marks on my horse. I think I choose to stay in the business so I could be behind the scenes tp watch how the horses were treated. In the few years I was involved 04-08 I never really seen a horse abused. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories, but never seen any had I witness any I would have been sure to speak my piece on the matter.
Other than it never being the right environment for me once my horse died/disappeared I just decided to stay away from the business all together. Losing my big ole goof of a horse has been pretty tough on me. I know he was just a horse right? Well fuck you! He was more than to me. When I bought him he instantly became a pet to me and over time I became very attached to that horse. To some he may have been less than mediocre , but to me he was my special boy! I was happy just watching him out pacing on the back stretch. Boone was never given a fair chance. He was dicked over time and time again, he was taught tons of bad habits, he was rushed and the trainer would always cut corners on his care and training. I was hoping to bring him back as a 4 year old and him show people he had what it took to be a decent race horse.
I made a commitment to him when I bought him that I would never get rid of him simply because he couldn’t keep up with the pace. And if by chance he came back and still performed at the level he was performing at then he was going to be turned into a riding horse and live out his little horsey life being happy. I’m not like the majority of people in this shitty business. Who just get rid of their horses not caring where they’re going off to. Horses are amazing animals they deserve to be looked after and treated right. Most people I think either don’t know this or they loose sight of what’s right after being in the business to long.
I have been away from racing since July of last year until two days ago my cousin calls me asking if I can help her out with her horse today. Me being the person I am to those who are in need I agreed to help her out. So here in oh about 3hrs I gotta go help load the horse up and take her to the track. Then get her on and off the track bathe her and cool her out. Which isn’t a hard thing to do at all, but this particular mare isn’t a very happy one. Not to mention she’s got a super sharp tooth bothering her so it should be a fun day with no sleep. I dunno how it’s going to be on me going there and taking care of another horse. The last horse I took care of and gave a bath to was my Booner boy. He was such an ass to bathe always twisting and turning in the cross ties making me get more water on myself than him lol. Then bullying me when I would walk him an cool him out. Gah! I miss him! But, anyways…
I was OUT and now they pull me back IN. FACK!!!
New MMA clothing “Pimp My Triangle”
I’m sure those of you into the whole MMA scene have seen the more popular clothing lines such as TapOut, Affliction, etc…
Well there’s a new line on the block called “Pimp My Triangle” or simply “PMT” for short. Personally I prefer PMT opposed to the bigger names. Cause quite frankly 40$-50$ for an Affliction Tshirt is a tad bit crazy. Especially if your plans consist of training in it and getting it all stinky from blood and sweat. So be sure to check out either of the following website addresses and order some kick ass gear!
www.pimpmytriangle.com www.taporsleep.com
A few samples.
Great Senator you have Oregon!
It’s hard to co exsist in the world we live in today without having state leaders preaching such ignorant words and feeding the hate.
“My advice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don’t talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel.”
- State Senator Gary George of Oregon, please feel free to contact him at sen.garygeorge@state.or.us
My horse situation. Is he dead or alive?
As some know I own / co-own a few standard bred horses with my family Boondock Sam being one of them. Boone was my first horse and when bills got to high for me to manage comfortably my dad stepped in to take part ownership to make it easier on me. Well my dad decided to turn him out August 19th 2007 at a “friend” of his who also was a co-worker. Well this friend called March 2, 2008 to tell my dad that Boone had died March 1st. He didn’t know what happened to him only that he saw him laying out in the field. He said that he didn’t really think much of it at the time, but went to check on him a little later and he was dead.
Needless to say I was a huge mess when I got the news. I was against turning him out at a place that I wasn’t familiar with plus I didn’t even know the guy. Come to find out my dad barely knows him he just worked with him for a few years till the guy was fired. Back to the issue at hand. So after I was able to finally calm down a bit I decided I wanted a necropsy (animal autopsy) done on my horse I wanted to know what happened to him. If he was neglected or abused. My plans were to transport him to The Ohio State University for it to be performed then have him cremated. It was going to cost me 300$ just for the necropsy, but that was well worth it for the piece of mind. My dad called the guy back and once he mentioned an “autopsy” to him he then tells my dad there was no horse to come pick up because he had buried him. First it takes the guy a day to call to notify us then he takes it upon himself to bury my horse on his property.
My first reaction was ok this guy is hiding something. My friend Amber bless her soul made a few phones calls for me to find out if there was a law in Ohio where you couldn’t bury an animal of that caliber on your property. There aren’t any because in Ohio horses are considered livestock. She was also told since he is my horse I am clearly entitled to him dead or alive. But, to be prepared of things that could happen if he was dug up (that he may not come out right bones breaking etc,..). I was later advised by an old trainer of mine that since he had been dead for a few days and the guy buried him that the necropsy most might be inconclusive and that I would be wasting my money.
My second reaction is that my horse may not even be dead after all I haven’t seen him dead last time I seen him he was healthy as any normal 4 year old gelding. Hell the guy could have sold him, Amished him, sent him to slaughter, or has him somewhere else. I hope he has no plans on racing him because he has a freeze brand tattoo so he can be identified. So yesterday I went out to the guys house and he pointed out to where he buried him only I couldn’t see because well I can’t see that damn far. It was to muddy in the pasture from all the snow melting for me to walk to the back of the pasture, but I’ll be going back out there here in a few days providing it isn’t as muddy. My dad told the guy to have it setup to un dig the hole so we may see if indeed he’s in there. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it, but it’s something I have to do. I have to know that he is indeed dead. I’m not sure if I still plan on going along with having the necropsy done or not. I mean either way he’s dead, but if he did something to him I wanna know.
He said he was fine on Friday that the neighbor boy feed him 2 carrots and he was chasing the goats like he normally would do. But, Saturday he saw him laying down and didn’t think much of it and later found him dead. Well that was the intial story yesterday it was… “I saw him lying down and thought maybe he was scratching his back or something” but he didn’t get up so I went out there and he was dead. He said he checked him over and everything trying to figure out what could have happened, but he was just laying there dead no sign of anything. Basically he’s saying hey I’m a dumb ass, had that been me I would have called a vet out there wether the horse was dead or not and then immediately called the owners I wouldn’t wait a day.
He said theres a cherry tree out by one of the fences so he thinks maybe he cribbed on it and got some of the bark and sap from it. I read up about cherry trees last night and they are extremely toxic to horses. So why the hell does this guy have one near horses? Not only that, but his neighbors also have horses on the other side of the fence so they to could possibly get to the tree. So again why the hell is there a cherry tree there? They are so toxic they can kill a horse in a matter of minutes. He has two goats out there that were in the pasture with Boone and his horse yet they never once nibbled on the tree? Cherry trees aren’t palatable so horses won’t normally bother with them unless they are extremely bored. Which he was out with a horse and two goats doubt he was bored. Another reason being if they are extremely hungry so if he tried to eat the damn tree it’s because jackass wasn’t feeding him. Honestly I don’t see a horse cribbing or eating that tree of all trees out there especially when he had been turned out since August and now all the sudden he finds that tree. Before being turned out there my dad asked the guy if there was anything for him to get into and he told him NO that he has had his horse out there for years. But, now it’s a different story cause apparently he knows cherry trees can be fatal which is why he suggested that may be what killed him. Normally when a person has horses and other animals they make sure there isn’t anything toxic they can get into and if there is they remove them asap. But, nothing about this situation has been normal.
My gut is telling me something isn’t right and part of me won’t believe Boone’s dead. I don’t know what to think or do anymore with this situation it’s been on going for two weeks now. If I wasn’t on the verge of a nervous break down I am now. The guy also said the little boy who would feed him carrots was totally devastated and so were his girls that one of them cried so hard her nose bled. His girls were outside with us yesterday and not one of them said a word it was like maybe they were told not to say anything. Hell maybe they have no idea what’s going on or maybe the guy got rid of Boone and told them he died. I can’t see a father doing that, but hell nothing surprises me anymore especially since he found him dead in the morning and buried him that afternoon. Granted no one wants a dead horse on their property, but he could have moved him and covered him up since he was able to move him to bury him. Hell maybe the little girls are in on it maybe it’s a damn conspiracy! I just don’t know I just know it’s taking it’s toll on dear old me. That’s all I got for now as more comes of this I’ll be sure to post an update so check back.
I uploaded pictures of the area he was turned out at they’re unedited so some may be underexposed. You can check them out here www.chadwickonline.net/boone
