Stories related to: horse

Eight Belles' owner is still shocked and saddened by the death of his filly, put down at the end of the Kentucky Derby—but believes she belonged in the race, reports the Palm Beach Post . Rick Porter switched from celebrating his horse's thrilling second-place finish to mourning her death within minutes. "It's the bottom of the barrel," he said yesterday. "It's just a horrible feeling." More »

The trainer of euthanized filly Eight Belles adamantly defended the way jockey Gabriel Saez handled the Kentucky Derby runner-up. In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Larry Jones said Saez applied the whip only to prevent Eight Belles from crashing into the rail. More »

Twelve deaths and several injuries have spurred debate over the safety of the demanding equestrian sport known as "eventing," the New York Times reports. The sport, considered by many to be the ultimate test of horse and rider, grabbed the spotlight last month when one of the world's finest riders nearly died in a fall. More »

A Hawaii hospital ejected the relative of a man recovering from surgery after he tried to bring the patient’s favorite pet—a full-grown horse—to visit, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports. Security staff stopped the visitors before they could get to the patient's room; the man was intoxicated, and the horse turned out not to belong to the patient at all. More »

Animal-rights activists have long been champing at the bit to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, and a PETA publicity strongman is in town to do just that, New York magazine reports. Though Michael Bloomberg and others in City Hall support the trade, PETA's Dan Mathews—legendary for his anti-fur tactics—has been crusading to ramp up attention since a Queens councilman proposed a ban in December. More »

A US ban on horse slaughter has had some gruesome unintended consequences, the New York Times reports. American horses are still sold for their meat, but they’re now shipped to Mexico or Canada, facing first a grueling transport, and then often a nastier death than they’d receive in better-regulated US slaughterhouses. “My worst nightmare has happened,” one veterinarian said. More »

When the sun was shining on the economy, millions of Americans tried to make hay by buying horses and moving into backyard breeding. As things slow down, the animals are getting harder to sell and pricier to feed, making horse neglect and abandonment a big problem, the Wall Street Journal reports. Rescue centers are struggling to deal with starving horses. More »

In horse racing, nurture trumps nature, a study finds. Just 10% of a horse’s winnings can be chalked up to lineage, the BBC reports; offspring of high-priced stallions do perform better overall, but not because of genetics. “People who can afford to pay high stud fees can also afford to manage and train their horses well,” one researcher said. More »

Curlin capped a grand year by winning the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic today, the AP reports. He blew by Hard Spun and Lawyer Ron in the home stretch and ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.59 on a sloppy track, claiming his sixth win in nine starts. "He's a big-day horse," said trainer Steve Asmussen. In a sad turn, European star George Washington fractured an ankle and was put down on the track. More »

The world's most expensive racehorse finished third in his rookie race at Belmont Park yesterday. The Green Monkey, really a horse that sold for $16 million at Saratoga's auction last year, had been kept off the track for months by a series of injuries, the AP reports. "In a perfect world, he would win," said the Green Monkey's trainer. More »

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense triumphed in the "Midsummer Derby" today at Saratoga, holding off longshot Grasshopper to capture the $1 million Travers Stakes by a half-length. The superstar 3-year-old, under regular rider Calvin Borel, paid $2.70 to win after the crowd at the sweltering Spa sent him off as the 1-4 favorite. More »

Out-migration has devastated the small towns of Montana, novelist Deirdre McNamer writes in an op-ed in today's Times . Salvation has come in the improbable form of Operation Noble Mustang. The US government program uses prisoners to train wild horses from federal land holdings for use by border guards patrolling for smugglers and terrorists coming from Canada. More »

Princess Martha Louise of Norway says she can talk to angels—and teach other people how to strike up a chat as well. The 35-year-old princess claims to have psychic powers that she plans to use in her new alternative therapy center: For about $4,150 a year she'll teach you the spiritual skills she learned through her "experiences with horses." More »

Physical therapists are increasingly turning to horses to help patients with serious injuries, cerebral palsy, muscle disorders and developmental delays.  The complex act of maintaining balance on a moving horse bolsters damaged or underdeveloped muscle groups and can have psychological benefits. Horses' movements mimic a human gait, making the method more effective than some more traditional ones. More »

Perplexed onlookers are flocking to a to a zoo in Germany to see a zebrula—the rare but not unprecedented offspring of a male zebra and a female horse, AFP reports. The animal, named Eclyse, has the head of a zebra, the body of a horse, and a coat split down the middle between solid white and black stripes. More »

Plummeting supplies of tuna have become a recipe for disaster in Japan, where sushi lovers eat 60,000 tons of the fish a year. Desperate chefs are experimenting with increasingly bizarre sushi substitutes, including deer and even horse, the New York Times reports. But sushi without tuna in Japan is like American baseball without hotdogs. More »

The cry of "girl power!" echoed throughout stately Belmont Park today as a filly won the Belmont Stakes for the first time in 102 years. Rags to Riches, a half-sister of 2006 winner Jazil, overcame a stumble at the start to outduel favored Curlin by a neck and capture the third jewel of the Triple Crown under John Velazquez. More »