Frodo's crash on the front of ky.com

[DLee]

Just clicked on it like I do every day to read local news and was not prepared to see the photo. I saw the video before it was removed but this frozen instant... I have no words.

http://www.kentucky.com/254/story/389828.html

[c_expresso]

Oh my god, holy $h!t!!!!!!

I can't believe they have that on there... poor Fro fro with his head about to hit the ground :cry::cry::no::no::cry:

[SparklePlenty]

That makes me just sick... Some days i think people have no shame. :(

[DairyQueen2049]

Shock sells papers. :no:

[Equus34]

OMG... What a shot. I too can't believe they would have used that one on the front page. But then again maybe it will bring more awareness into this wonderful sport and they will do more to figure out how we can make the sport safer.

Jingles to Laine...

[QHquest]

I know I am going to get flamed for this and no I do not event but eventing is seeing alot of deaths and/or serious injuries to horses and riders. Something needs to change. Posting this picture is going to get attention. What other sport do you see this many serious accidents? The higher the level, things usually get safer. There are quite a few very competent riders and horses who are getting hurt. They are paying the price dearly for a slight mistake. Make jumps that collapse or give. ALL OF THEM. I think that it boils down to money that organizers,riders, etc. don't want to spend. Safety is expensive but life is priceless. I mean what top level sport equal to Rolex are you going to enter for $200 bucks.

Like I said I do not event but I did want to. Now not so much.

[Invested1]

Ugh.
And the article says that Laine hasn't been told that Frodo had to be put down?
Poor girl!

[talkofthetown]

I know I am going to get flamed for this and no I do not event but eventing is seeing alot of deaths and/or serious injuries to horses and riders. Something needs to change. Posting this picture is going to get attention. What other sport do you see this many serious accidents? The higher the level, things usually get safer. There are quite a few very competent riders and horses who are getting hurt. They are paying the price dearly for a slight mistake. Make jumps that collapse or give. ALL OF THEM. I think that it boils down to money that organizers,riders, etc. don't want to spend. Safety is expensive but life is priceless. I mean what top level sport equal to Rolex are you going to enter for $200 bucks.

Like I said I do not event but I did want to. Now not so much.

I was talking about this to a friend the night it happened. I'm a die hard eventer, and even with everything that's been happening, I don't want to stop. Does it put things in a new perspective? Yes, absolutely. But my friend is a non-eventer but possible convertee, and our group saw the whole thing on the big screen. Her thoughts were similar to yours- show people how terrifying and fatal our sport can be, and people will be more careful. While I whole-heartedly agree that something needs to be done (it's not my place to decide WHAT exactly), I don't feel that showing pictures like that is the way to go about it. How do you think the Ashkers will feel if they ever see those photos? I don't want to make this into yet another "why is this happening, what needs to be done about it" argument. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it's a risky sport. The riders know this, and they still compete; no one's forcing them. It happens at ALL levels. Does something need to be done to bring more awareness and safety to the sport? Absolutely. Do we need to do that by making people nauseus and scaring people away altogether? I don't agree.

Just my two cents.

[TexasTB]

Considering what resulted from that crash.. a dead horse and an injured rider, I thought it was in very bad taste to put that picture on the website. Sure, show people pictures of a rotational fall.. just one that both horse and rider walked away from!
How bitterly insensitive of the reporters to flash that image across a website:no:. Learn some class.

[useventers]

Why such shock at a photo of an eventing accident? If a jockey goes down in a horrific fall during a race, the photos usually show up in the Racing Form the next day and the video is always available on replay.

Later, some stupid TV show will have a video of it during their "most dramatic videos" and general public will be amazed by it with not much concern for the poor rider who went through it.

The TV networks love to show the video when these riders return to riding and are in a big race. It's usually the big human interest story on how they survived this horrific fall and are back riding now. They can't wait to show the video again to thousands of people watching at home.

Can you imagine when Laine returns, having Rolex show a replay of her fall before she goes XC. People would be horrified, but what's the difference between an event rider and a jockey?

[royal militron]

My thoughts and prayers are with the family... I can't really comment on the picture... But, I find it hard to believe she doesn't know how the horse is and that he was put down... I think I'd be really upset if someone with held that kind of information from me, no matter what my physical state is.

[talkofthetown]

I'm not positive, because I'm not familiar with the racing world, but IMO, not only did the horse NOT come back for "the big race", eventer's are a close knit community. Most eventers either know of Lainey, and follow her, or know her personally, and know her family and horses. It's a lot easier to watch an accident, fatal or not, when you're not personally affected by it.

[DLee]

Six horses were euthanized at Keeneland's Fall Meet of 2007. I could be wrong, but I don't recall a photo of any of them on the front page.

[redlight]

Maybe "worth the risk" to the rider but what about the horse? I'm am so tired of people saying this. We make a decision to put OUR safety at risk but the horse has no choice. The horse is our friend. Are we being his friend when we allow him to be put in a situation where it could sustain catastrophic injury? I understand you can not prevent rider error and in this case it was obvious rider error but the consequence for the rider's mistake should not be death to the horse.

It is a disturbing picture. It won't be long before PETA or one of the other humane organizations sees this. Perhaps this is what needs to happen in order for the powers that be actually put some rule changes into action instead of just having meeting after meeting to talk about changes to the sport. The NY Times recently had an article about the dangers of the sport. While David O'Connor fired back that we did have over 46,000 starters last year with only .02% accident rate I'd love to know what that rate is for the preliminary level and above. Talk about spin.

Okay, so go ahead and flame me. I am a former eventer and at this point I think I'll stay in the former category. This is not the sport I grew up with.

[c_expresso]

I just really read the article.

SO INFURIATING.

Jamie DID NOT BREAK DOWN at Jersey as this article says. HE WAS NOT EUTHANIZED as this article says.

Also Frodo is not 16, as this article says.

[useventers]

Six horses were euthanized at Keeneland's Fall Meet of 2007. I could be wrong, but I don't recall a photo of any of them on the front page.

Horses breaking down have been photographed and printed for years, although not each and every one from a single meet. You CAN find each of those races from Keeneland on video at sites like racereplays.com. They certainly aren't hiding anything.

My question was not about the horse, but about the riders? The jockey colony, the backside and the friends and family of these jockeys are also a tight knit community.
Why is it no problem to show them having life threatening falls??

[TexasTB]

Why such shock at a photo of an eventing accident? If a jockey goes down in a horrific fall during a race, the photos usually show up in the Racing Form the next day and the video is always available on replay.

Later, some stupid TV show will have a video of it during their "most dramatic videos" and general public will be amazed by it with not much concern for the poor rider who went through it.

The TV networks love to show the video when these riders return to riding and are in a big race. It's usually the big human interest story on how they survived this horrific fall and are back riding now. They can't wait to show the video again to thousands of people watching at home.

Can you imagine when Laine returns, having Rolex show a replay of her fall before she goes XC. People would be horrified, but what's the difference between an event rider and a jockey?

The difference is, a living being DIED in this crash.
When the news station talks about a fatal car crash or a murder, they don't flash pictures of the decapitated victims. Why should eventing?

[khp vol]

Both the reporter and editor's e-mail and phone # are listed in the article. If you want to complain about it, let the folks at the Herald-Leader know about it.
As was mentioned by another poster, sensationalism sells. By the way, if you want to comment on the Kentucky.com website, you'll have to register, and they'll use the number of clicks as a selling point to advertisers.

[useventers]

The difference is, a living being DIED in this crash.
When the news station talks about a fatal car crash or a murder, they don't flash pictures of the decapitated victims. Why should eventing?

They photograph and publish photos of horse that had to be put down all the time. I've seen them during the breakdown, after, laying on the track, holding their leg up, you can go on and on with the awful photos they show in horse racing...
Many times the horrific falls a jockey takes is because a horse breaks down and has to be euthanized. Just because a living being died, that doesn't seem to stop the media from printing these racing photos.

[ArtilleryHill]

<<If a jockey goes down in a horrific fall during a race, the photos usually show up in the Racing Form the next day>>

No, actually not. True that the replays are available through the varied sources that replay race videos, such as the site the poster mentioned, but the DRF is not in the habit of "usually" running photos of "horrific spills" any time there's an accident. Nor would they ever do that "to sell papers"; what sells the DRF is the handicapping information.

Regarding the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com, which is the H-L's online version, they have an editor's note explaining why they decided to run it. I agree that it is not their job to depict only the beauty of the game and not depict the dangers, particularly when the dangers are the biggest issue in the eventing community at the moment. But I agree ENTIRELY with a previous poster that it crossed a line to run a photo of a horse that actually died in the accident depicted. Far better that they do an artist-drawn diagram, for example, of a rotational fall. I called the editor's number and left a message to that effect; if you agree, or whatever your thoughts, I suggest you do the same. They put the number there for a reason: they want your views. Give them.

[DLee]

Yes, I have written to the editor.

I guess what I am saying is, they have now printed photos of both horses that had to be euthanized over the weekend. I do not believe they did that, nor had articles written that invited comments from the public, about the horses that were put down during the Fall Meet. It just seems a double standard to me.

[useventers]

<<If a jockey goes down in a horrific fall during a race, the photos usually show up in the Racing Form the next day>>

No, actually not. True that the replays are available through the varied sources that replay race videos, such as the site the poster mentioned, but the DRF is not in the habit of "usually" running photos of "horrific spills" any time there's an accident. Nor would they ever do that "to sell papers"; what sells the DRF is the handicapping information.


When Gary Stevens was injured in the Arlington Million there were all sorts of photos published, video replay on the news etc....
It's not going to be published on every single rider that is hurt or every single horse that is put down. I'm talking about the major events and riders, the equivalent to Kentucky.
Why the difference? Is it because racing is a business?

[farmgirl88]

while the photo is shocking, sad, and horrific all at the same time- its a real eye opener on how dangerous this sport is and how much things need to be change for the benefit of all. Theres no need to paint a picture of roses to try and cover up what really happens ALL THE TIME. Its infuriating to the point when you all want the photo removed and you want to complain to the editor, but why not complain about the reasons why this crash happened that caused the death of a living animal for the benefit of someone's enjoyment

Im not one to preach about animal welfare at all. But we can't sit here and blame the death of a wonderful horse on something as simple as a rider's misjudgment. If there was misjudgment, there should be ways that a horse could get out of a situation such as this to prevent death or such an accident that would cause him to flip. Accidents happen all the time. But i show hunters/jumpers and our fences COME DOWN. so if a horse hangs a leg, gets in too deep, or leaves too long, the fences come down underneath them so they dont end up in situations like this.

Im not balming Frodo's death on misjudgment but his rider, but im blaming it on the sport itself and the lack of regulations on the fences to prevent incidents such as this.

[Dressage62]

The message from the editor:

EDITOR'S NOTE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some will find this photo disturbing. We did not decide lightly to publish it. It depicts in a way that words cannot fully convey exactly what happened. We have printed many photos showing the grace and beauty of this sport; this one illustrates its dangers. To comment, please call me at 859-231-3221 or laustin@herald-leader.com. Linda Austin, Editor

[ArtilleryHill]

I think DLee makes a good point about the difference in coverage between Rolex and Keeneland. My suspicion is that this has more to do with the safety issues being such a big recent topic in eventing, whereas in racing it is an ongoing older story--not necessarily fair, but I supect that's one reason. One piece of evidence for this is that the H-L and other general-audience papers gave a great deal of coverage to the advent of Polytrack and related safety issues in the wake of Barbaro's very public accident. That, at least, indicates that they were interested in the topic when they thought their audience was, too.

Another reason this year's breakdowns at Keeneland, specifically, might have received less coverage than the two Rolex accidents could be logistics. On an average day at the racetrack, papers usually have all their photographers in just one or two places; they are not generally allowed to wander to various spots on the track but restricted to one or two areas. If a breakdown occurs on the backstretch and not on the homestretch near a photo stand, for example, the local photographer is simply not going to be in a position to catch it--especially on an average racing day when remote cameras are not likely to be in use on the backstretch. In order to then get such a breakdown photo, the news source would, I guess, have to quickly (before deadline) try to acquire the rights to reprint a frame or frames of the video from the racetrack--and, needless to say, that's unlikely to be granted by a racetrack in the case of a breakdown, which they wouldn't want publicized. The situation is changed for major events like the Derby and Preakness, where there are more photographers and many remote cameras.

[Arado*TB]

I am not an eventer.I did consider it briefly however, I don't bounce like I used to.That being said.I would like to see as someone previously stated jumps that GIVE , fall , or breakaway such as the Puisannce wall that has pieces if you will.
My daughter had a minor accident,she had a bad spot and the horse had a hard rub.The pole popped up out of the cups coming up between his legs sending him into a pile .Fortunately she rolled away and he had dirt in his ears.It could have been alot worse. I just think there needs to be a revamping of sfety issues and this seems to be a big issue. It is just my 2 cents but that photo really upset me.
Godspeed to all involved.

[useventers]

Yes, I have written to the editor.

I guess what I am saying is, they have now printed photos of both horses that had to be euthanized over the weekend. I do not believe they did that, nor had articles written that invited comments from the public, about the horses that were put down during the Fall Meet. It just seems a double standard to me.

I don't think there is a double standard, racing has been dealing with a negative media image for years. Eventing is just now taking the heat because of all the recent horse/rider deaths. If a dozen jockeys died last year, I can promise you they would REFUSE to ride until the conditions were fixed.

[Liz Chilcott]

I have been the organizer of The Erie hunt & Saddle Club H.T. for over 20 years. We are the 2nd oldest continuous Horse Trials in the U.S. with courses from Beginner Novice through Preliminary and an Intermediate course that alternates with the Lost Hounds H.T. and we have had one horse fatality (21 year old with a heart attack) and never anything more serious than a pneumothorax (which was hair raising enough). Safety has always been a concern and the competetive spirit we all admire in these riders at the FEI level is often at odds with common sense and riding within one's ability. At that point the Organization has to step in and legislate safety. I remember the fight with riders over mandatory safety vests Cross Country! It has been remarked that upper levels of other sports are safer?......How about car racing, motocross, skiing? Our problem is that we involve a partner who does not chose to compete. You cannot make an Event Horse do what they do but sometimes their own competative spirit will cause them to try when they should quit and then there can be trouble. It will never be risk free, but there are a lot of changes in the pipeline right now that will help such as one fall of rider and you're done. (Heidi White rode the last part of the course one handed after her fall and did not present Sunday)

[ArtilleryHill]

<<It's not going to be published on every single rider that is hurt or every single horse that is put down. I'm talking about the major events and riders, the equivalent to Kentucky.
Why the difference? Is it because racing is a business?>>

Maybe I'm just being obtuse here, but I'm not sure I see a difference (not sure I'm getting your question here, though). I thought your initial point was that the racing media DID print photos of spills regularly; they don't, and, as far as I can tell, the eventing media doesn't "usually" print photos of "horrific spills" every time they happen, either--that seems to depend somewhat on whether the publication in question is local to where the event/accident took place and had a photogrpaher in position to capture the image, as well as on whether the event was a big one, like Rolex.

Accident photos from big races are more abundant for the logistical reasons I mention in an earlier post, and also because, by being the Derby or Rolex, they are generally considered big news events--especially for local media.

I think I'm not fully understanding your question--can you clarify?

[Moesha]

Having had the unfortunate priveledge having had a rotational fall...All I can say is how sorry I am for her and her pain and loss...that picture makes me cringe..I don't think there is much worse that a fall/accident where a horse flips over like that and onto you...and I can tell you from pure honesty....the rider does think..even in that split second
"oh my god my horse"

I pray she recovers and returns to riding as soon as she can...I read a COTH article about her years ago and she seems like a nice person with so much talent..

[ArtilleryHill]

<<I pray she recovers and returns to riding as soon as she can>>

Hear, hear.

[LessonLearned]

This is big news for Kentucky in an Olympic year pre-the WEG 2010. If eventing is in the midst of a major controversy it could impact perception, etc.

In terms of journalistic integrity, there is a difference here between ethics and taste, that you might highlight in notes to the editor, etc. The photo records what happened, what happened was reported on, and the news source published the photo. They violated no code of ethics because that is the role of the news. In fact, someone could probably construct an argument calling them to the carpet for NOT publishing it.

Look at the discussion here - it is no different than journalistic priority -- if it bleeds, it leads. We have all been talking about this and not the dozen or so amazingly beautiful and foot-perfect rides on Saturday. Why? Human nature? The need to process? Think about it -- I have a dozen eventing videos in which the commentator notes that people gather at the water because of the "excitement factor" -- they are waiting to see something happen. A news source is going to be no different.

The larger issue here is a question of taste. How respectful/tactful is it to publish this photo -- i.e. just because you can does it mean that you should? A more difficult issue to argue, for sure, but probably a more substantive and compelling one in the eyes of the editor.

[useventers]

ArtilleryHill... you're saying they don't print photos and show video of the jockeys and horses that have gone down?
I 100% disagree. I've seen them over and over during the last 30 years. Not every race, but certainly the big names, big races or dramatic falls. As I mentioned earlier, they seem to show them for dramatic effect on silly TV shows for the general public. Here's an awful photo of Gary Stevens laying on the track with the same type of injuries and Laine:
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/17592.htm

My questions is why the extreme response and shock to this photo of Laine Ashker? They've been doing this for years in racing and nobody seems to care. Maybe we're just used to seeing it in racing and not eventing.

[ArtilleryHill]

<<In terms of journalistic integrity, there is a difference here between ethics and taste, that you might highlight in notes to the editor, etc.>>

Well said. I agree with this assessment and said as much in my call to the editor. The accident was newsworthy primarily because of the current debate over safety issues in eventing, but there were other, better ways to illustrate the piece, in my view, that would not have involved showing the horse in the middle of the accident that ultimatley caused his death.

[Miss T]

I am so, so sorry about this whole horrific incident. However, after reading and reading about the entire thing, I was glad to see the photo - it explains what happened better than anything else (no, I didn't see the youtube footage). The accident itself was sickening - I don't think the photo makes it any worse and does show why the end result was so bad.

[ArtilleryHill]

<<ArtilleryHill... you're saying they don't print photos and show video of the jockeys and horses that have gone down?>>

I'm not saying this at all, in fact I never said that. Your initial post suggested, indeed said, that the DRF in particular "usually" printed photos of spills, when, in fact, they don't usually. As in other sports, they DO print ones deemed especially newsworthy--can't recall whether the DRF printed one of the Steven spill you mentioned, but they probably did, and obviously other racing sites did, for reasons I've already stated: it happened in a major event to a top rider.

<<Not every race, but certainly the big names, big races or dramatic falls.>>

Exactly. That's not the same as "usually," considering that there are plenty of breakdowns of various kinds happening all over the country every racing day--such as the ones at Keeneland DLee mentioned that didn't get photos printed anywhere that I'm aware of, including DRF. I was only objecting to your characterization of the racing media, and DRF specifically, as being a frequent printer of many spills, which just isn't accurate.

<<My questions is why the extreme response and shock to this photo of Laine Ashker? They've been doing this for years in racing and nobody seems to care. Maybe we're just used to seeing it in racing and not eventing. >>

Good question, and not one I can answer, but, as you say, I do think it has something to do with the public's long familiarity with the fact that racehorses break down. Having said that, there traditionally is a hue and cry over injury photos of racehorses, too, as you might recall from the large outcry over Sports Illustrated's graphic imagery of Go For Wand's terrible breakdown in the 1990 Breeders' Cup. Most recent ones I recall, including Charismatic in the Belmont and Barbaro in the Preakness, were of people aiding horses, with relatively few showing the injured limb out of place or otherwise graphically depicted, and in both of those cases the horses were, atthe time of publication, still alive.

As someone said a few moments ago, in the H-L/Frodo case this morning, I think the photo was not a good choice, partly because the horse was known to be dead as a result of the accident, making it not tasteful in my view, and partly because it added nothing in the way of new information to the story--in other words, there was nothing in the image that shed important new light on the fall and its outcome.

Most importantly, here's hoping Laine Ashker makes a full recovery--and here's wishing her much strength in the days to come when she is finally told of the fate of her beloved partner.

[showmom07]

When Gary Stevens was injured in the Arlington Million there were all sorts of photos published, video replay on the news etc....
It's not going to be published on every single rider that is hurt or every single horse that is put down. I'm talking about the major events and riders, the equivalent to Kentucky.
Why the difference? Is it because racing is a business?

I think this horse and rider received "special" attention because the rider was an up and coming potential Olympic rider. The horse was famous for having been in the LOR movie. And there has been increasing coverage of the dangers of eventing (Chiacchia).

There are plenty of photographs of horses breaking down in the industry publications such as the Blood-Horse, the Thoroughbred Record, Thoroughbred Times, etc. Also pictures of riders being trampled in the dirt. But as this poster said, it is usually when the spill involves a top horse, rider, or famous race. How many times did they show Barbaro's breakdown video and photos. And think of the movie they made about Ruffian. There are also books detailing rider injuries such as Julie Krone's autobiography.

I know there is plenty of coverage of these accidents because my daughter grew up wanting to be a jockey, so her Dad would every week read her all the coverage of injured, maimed, and yes dead jockeys.... until she took up show jumping.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2004-02-09-rowland-obit_x.htm
From 1940 - 2004 there had been 144 jockey deaths in North America, according to The Jockeys' Guild. The last American jockey death (prior to 2004) came at Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio, in 2001

http://198.246.98.21/niosh/topics/HorseJockey/pdfs/jockeys-fh-11.14.06.pdf
The Jockeys’ Guild of America reported that over 100 jockeys have been
killed betweeen 1950 and 2006. Nine were killed in Great Britain between 1975 and 2000.
° Rates of injury death have not been reported

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5559789
From May July 2006 sicteen (16) lesser-known racehorses had been put to death after injuries at the Arlington Park racetrack near Chicago.

[showmom07]

When Gary Stevens was injured in the Arlington Million there were all sorts of photos published, video replay on the news etc....
It's not going to be published on every single rider that is hurt or every single horse that is put down. I'm talking about the major events and riders, the equivalent to Kentucky.
Why the difference? Is it because racing is a business?

I think this horse and rider received "special" attention because the rider was an up and coming potential Olympic rider. The horse was famous for having been in the LOR movie. And there has been increasing coverage of the dangers of eventing (Chiacchia).

There are plenty of photographs of race horses breaking down in the industry publications such as the Blood-Horse, the Thoroughbred Record, Thoroughbred Times, etc. Also pictures of riders being trampled in the dirt. But as this poster said, it is usually when the spill involves a top horse, rider, or famous race. How many times did they show Barbaro's breakdown video and photos. And think of the movie they made about Ruffian. There are also books detailing rider injuries such as Julie Krone's autobiography.

I know there is plenty of coverage of these accidents because my daughter grew up wanting to be a jockey (the Krone book was her favorite), so her Dad would every week read her all the coverage of injured, maimed, and yes dead jockeys.... until she took up show jumping.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2004-02-09-rowland-obit_x.htm
From 1940 - 2004 there had been 144 jockey deaths in North America, according to The Jockeys' Guild. The last American jockey death (prior to 2004) came at Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio, in 2001

http://198.246.98.21/niosh/topics/HorseJockey/pdfs/jockeys-fh-11.14.06.pdf
The Jockeys’ Guild of America reported that over 100 jockeys have been
killed betweeen 1950 and 2006. Nine were killed in Great Britain between 1975 and 2000.
° Rates of injury death have not been reported

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5559789
From May July 2006 sicteen (16) lesser-known racehorses had been put to death after injuries at the Arlington Park racetrack near Chicago.

[showmom07]

When Gary Stevens was injured in the Arlington Million there were all sorts of photos published, video replay on the news etc....
It's not going to be published on every single rider that is hurt or every single horse that is put down. I'm talking about the major events and riders, the equivalent to Kentucky.
Why the difference? Is it because racing is a business?

I think this horse and rider received "special" attention because the rider was an up and coming potential Olympic rider. The horse was famous for having been in the LOR movie. And there has been increasing coverage of the dangers of eventing (Chiacchia).

There are plenty of photographs of race horses breaking down in the industry publications such as the Blood-Horse, the Thoroughbred Record, Thoroughbred Times, etc. Also pictures of riders being trampled in the dirt. But as this poster said, it is usually when the spill involves a top horse, rider, or famous race. How many times did they show Barbaro's breakdown video and photos. And think of the movie they made about Ruffian. There are also books detailing rider injuries such as Julie Krone's autobiography.

I know there is plenty of coverage of these accidents because my daughter grew up wanting to be a jockey (the Krone book was her favorite), so her Dad would every week read her all the coverage of injured, maimed, and yes dead jockeys.... until she took up show jumping.

Here are some statistics

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2004-02-09-rowland-obit_x.htm
From 1940 - 2004 there had been 144 jockey deaths in North America, according to The Jockeys' Guild. The last American jockey death (prior to 2004) came at Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio, in 2001

http://198.246.98.21/niosh/topics/HorseJockey/pdfs/jockeys-fh-11.14.06.pdf
The Jockeys’ Guild of America reported that over 100 jockeys have been
killed betweeen 1950 and 2006. Nine were killed in Great Britain between 1975 and 2000.
° Rates of injury death have not been reported

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5559789
From May July 2006 sicteen (16) lesser-known racehorses had been put to death after injuries at the Arlington Park racetrack near Chicago.
It was this sort of stat from several different tracks that prompted the industry to install the safer turf.

[fooler]

There were numerous falls during the 1988 Kentucky 3 Day Event (long format 3*). A horrific fall by a Canadian rider was on the front page. Fortunately both walked away, don't know if they competed again tho. Odd the horse's name was something like Sudden Impact. . .

[luveventing]

wow. I had seen the video and while that was devastating- this photo just tore my heart out esp. knowing how it ends. I think it was too much, even if they had posted a pic of the fall a few seconds earlier I think I would have been ok and not felt like I need to throw up. how awful.

[Reiterin]

This sport is ridiculous! I've looked at the photos of Frodo and Quiet Man and am disgusted that anyone who claims to love a horse would ever put their friend at such risk. Your friend, the horse, has no choice!

I'm blown away by the posters who blow it off as "the risk we take". Then go bungee jump and leave your innocent horse at home.

No, I don't event and never would've. My opinion's always been that its an unfair sport to the horses the same as racing, steeplechase etc. and just because I haven't doesn't mean I don't get it or can't know how it feels etc. We've all seen the picturs and the fact remains two horses died horrible deaths that wouldn't have happened if they weren't asked to jump those fences. Its shameful and it needs to stop.

[Jazzy Lady]

This sport is ridiculous! I've looked at the photos of Frodo and Quiet Man and am disgusted that anyone who claims to love a horse would ever put their friend at such risk. Your friend, the horse, has no choice!

I'm blown away by the posters who blow it off as "the risk we take". Then go bungee jump and leave your innocent horse at home.

No, I don't event and never would've. My opinion's always been that its an unfair sport to the horses the same as racing, steeplechase etc. and just because I haven't doesn't mean I don't get it or can't know how it feels etc. We've all seen the picturs and the fact remains two horses died horrible deaths that wouldn't have happened if they weren't asked to jump those fences. Its shameful and it needs to stop.

Do you ride horses? Do you take them out of the feild, but a bit in their mouth a saddle on their back and ask them to do stuff while you ride them?

Let he who is without error cast the first stone...

[LexInVA]

The whole story is gone now. Nothing is at that link anymore.

[c_expresso]

Until you are educated about eventing...

STFU.

:winkgrin:

For the LAST TIME, we DO NOT MAKE our horses go XC. Ever tried to force a 1200lb animal over a big solid jump? It ain't happenin'! A good event horse LOVES it; LIVES for it.

Yes there are problems in the sport but there are problems in every sport, and even your which I assume is probably h/j. Go check out those hunters that get doped up before their classes. Go check out the hunters and jumpers getting lunged for an hour EVERY MORNING just so they are calm enough for their class.

Eventers are trying to fix the problems in our sport, and morons like you only get in the way!

This sport is ridiculous! I've looked at the photos of Frodo and Quiet Man and am disgusted that anyone who claims to love a horse would ever put their friend at such risk. Your friend, the horse, has no choice!

I'm blown away by the posters who blow it off as "the risk we take". Then go bungee jump and leave your innocent horse at home.

No, I don't event and never would've. My opinion's always been that its an unfair sport to the horses the same as racing, steeplechase etc. and just because I haven't doesn't mean I don't get it or can't know how it feels etc. We've all seen the picturs and the fact remains two horses died horrible deaths that wouldn't have happened if they weren't asked to jump those fences. Its shameful and it needs to stop.

[Reiterin]

Do you ride horses? Do you take them out of the feild, but a bit in their mouth a saddle on their back and ask them to do stuff while you ride them?

Let he who is without error cast the first stone...

I didn't say I was without error. And really honey, that is no sort of argument in favor of your cause.

Yeah, I ride. I've ridden for over 30yrs on mountain trails, hunter/jumper, reining and dressage. My husband and I have a small ranch and board horses. He ropes. I've owned over 30+ horses of all ages. I've never had one die as a direct result of something I asked it to do. I've had old horses have aneurysms in the field. I've had a horse fall in the pasture ripping around with friends and fracture its pelvis. I've had a horse tear a suspensory when jumping (and earned a good rest and rehab) Sure there are risks. But, a calculable well documented risk of death associated with a sliding stop? or extended trot? or cantering up a hill? or roping a cow? or jumping a 4'6" oxer?

Its not even comparable. The fact that people go back to your argument that it all has risk is silly. Its beyond me how someone can see the picture of Frodo and think its just a risk that you take. Its not an ethical one in my mind.

[c_expresso]

Yeah the point is WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS so no more horses end up like poor Frodo & Mikey. But it doesn't mean we are evil, or eventing should be shut down forever. People like you who know nothing about the sport give it a bad name, show us in a negative light... READ some of the dozens of topics on this BB about our suggestions to make things safer, go to the USEA site and look at some of the Eventing Task Force Goals and see that we are trying to make things safer.

And FYI there ARE crashes in show jumping.

I didn't say I was without error. And really honey, that is no sort of argument in favor of your cause.

Yeah, I ride. I've ridden for over 30yrs on mountain trails, hunter/jumper, reining and dressage. My husband and I have a small ranch and board horses. He ropes. I've owned over 30+ horses of all ages. I've never had one die as a direct result of something I asked it to do. I've had old horses have aneurysms in the field. I've had a horse fall in the pasture ripping around with friends and fracture its pelvis. I've had a horse tear a suspensory when jumping (and earned a good rest and rehab) Sure there are risks. But, a calculable well documented risk of death associated with a sliding stop? or extended trot? or cantering up a hill? or roping a cow? or jumping a 4'6" oxer?

Its not even comparable. The fact that people go back to your argument that it all has risk is silly. Its beyond me how someone can see the picture of Frodo and think its just a risk that you take. Its not an ethical one in my mind.

[sm]

the only benefit to showing videos like this might be that maybe he didn't die in vain, people will see and take decisive action.

Why can't the jumps be built with some give? I keep thinking of the "brick wall" in show jumping that flies apart in harmless blocks if the horse tips it. Why such solid jumps??? What on earth is the point??? Because if the horse misjudges, or judges well but takes off wrong because of footing, he should be spun about in a rotational fall?? WTF ?? And why in God's name arn't the course designers getting the message...

I am sickened by the video, but I do think it could serve a purpose. If that was my horse, and my horse is truly my heart, I would not want him to die in vain.

[Anyplace Farm]

Glad they pulled the article. See -- if enough people speak up, something gets done. Good job to whomever wrote and complained.

[ArtilleryHill]

They didn't pull the article, as far as I can tell. It's just been bumped a little lower on the page due to news that one of Kentucky's congressmen is going to endorse Obama today. The article and the photo are still up; if you click on the headline to the story, it will take you to both.

[khp vol]

The article (and photo) were taken off the front page, but it is not gone. There is a list of headlines under the cover photo (currently one of our local congressman endorsing Obama) and you must click on the headline to get the story (and the photo).

^^ArtilleryHill, I'll give credit where it's due; you type faster than I do!

[JanM]

I am wondering how the NBC coverage will deal with the rider injuries and horse fatalities because they will have a much wider audience than the online paper.

[katherine w]

There is also a picture of the Quiet Man's last jump on Kentucky.com

Both pictures are listed with editorial disclaimers, saying that only the picture can truly show what happened. Both photos are sickening, especially knowing what happened after the fact. It is just so sad, both horses were so very strong and capable.

Also, a google search will show you that Frodo was well loved far from the elite horse world in which we live.

[LexInVA]

Current link to article. (http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/389828.html) There it is. They just relocated it.

[sm]

I give them credit for not just writing two horses were "humanely euthanized." Show it for what it is, and I do mean SHOW IT, stop sanitizing these situations. Course designers need to wake up --wake up fast morons -- and build jumps with some give.

[Glimmerglass]

Glad they pulled the article. See -- if enough people speak up, something gets done. Good job to whomever wrote and complained.

Pulled the article? Just for clarity it remains on the front page of the Tuesday April 29th edition of the Lexington Herald-Leader. Like every daily issue a pdf version is available for free (http://media.kentucky.com/static/pagepdfs/a1.pdf). So while news rotates off their website the actual print edition is not "pulled".

What is interesting is the (thoroughbred racing) 2007 Eclipse Award for Photography went to Douglas Lees at the Fauquier Times Democrat for his shot titled "Down to Earth" and taken October 24, 2007. The jockey is Will Haynes and his mount, Navesink View (by Holy Bull), tumbling over a fence at the October 20 International Gold Cup Timber S. at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Virginia.

The image here - and worth noting neither horse nor rider were hurt (http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi?id=10138) yet to the casual person both images look pretty much the same.

The Lexington Herald-Leader I sincerely doubt was looking to "boost circulation" with that image. Rather they did want to convey to their readers - most of which know a heck of a lot more in general about horses then any other city in the US - what exactly took place. From the 2-shot sequence you can see the horse never was going to clear it.

[Albion]

Doesn't anyone remember the HORRIFIC photos of the Go For Wand breakdown published in Sports Illustrated - that included photographs of her being put down (to say nothing of the poor filly trying to hobble on track while her RF was hanging by a thread, so it's literally swinging around). Several orders of magnitude worse than any still photo I've seen of an eventing crash, and in a much bigger publication.

Eventing's not off the radar screen any more. I'm not sure it should be immune to the publicity that has dogged racing for years - negative publicity and photos of heart stopping crashes is one reason the industry was encouraged to clean itself up without dragging its feet (see: PVC wings on steeplechase fences).

[lesson junkie]

A true horseman will accept the fact we are responsible for our horses no matter what we do with them. Eventers are dealing with the "elephant in the room" and the rest of us need to support them. But, c. expresso, you can teach a horse to do anything-they charged cannon fire, remember? They may not go around like Teddy, but they will go. Understanding that means accepting the responsibility mentioned above.

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=Reiterin;3175944]
..... or roping a cow?
QUOTE]



What about those cows you rope? I have seen many dragged away with broken necks, backs, chocked etc....Very humane. I am sure them there cows are just LOVING that....Honey

[CANTEREOIN]

I pray she recovers and returns to riding as soon as she can...I read a COTH article about her years ago and she seems like a nice person with so much talent..

Amen...

[Larksmom]

There were numerous falls during the 1988 Kentucky 3 Day Event (long format 3*). A horrific fall by a Canadian rider was on the front page. Fortunately both walked away, don't know if they competed again tho. Odd the horse's name was something like Sudden Impact. . .

I was at that fence. That was the last time I could go, but had been to multiple 4**** events in the last several years. I seem to remember being HORRIFIED that year as I think there were no easy routes. I was at the Broken Bridge when Kerry had her devestating fall, and we had all been chuckling, that the fence would be bad fo a horse that 'chipped in'. When Kerry came through minutes later, it was no longer a funny thing. I remember thinking, 'What if you aren't going for the Olympic team? There were no alternates. It seemed a poorly designed course to me.

[GB Trail Rider]

Reiterin, Eventing is not cruel. :mad:

[vineyridge]

Wow! Those are excellent photos!

That horse never had a chance to make that jump. It certainly wasn't the fault of the course designer or the jump. Any horse with that bad a takeoff on any solid jump would probably rotate.

When I'm listening to all the cry about how the jumps are at fault, I keep thinking about those places in the world that still foxhunt over stone walls. The speeds are slower, of course, but the jumps are far more unforgiving.

I do think that solid jumps are far more dangerous than collapsible ones, but the essence of XC is that, like foxhunting and cavalry, you have to ride what's there. And what's there are ditches, trees, and walls. If you overemphasize safety with jump designs, you really will change the entire meaning of eventing.

Maybe nobody should be allowed to ride an upper level XC course without at least one solid year of foxhunting first flight with a hunt like the Piedmont. :) Just as jumps racing point to points in England require qualifying letters from the MFH of a recognized hunt.

[Hunter's Rest]

Glimmerglass
Good point re: the Douglas Lees 2007 Eclipse Award winning photo. I am the editor who elected to use the photo, its position in the paper, its size, and wrote the caption (and accompanying story.)
It is not a light decision. Yes, I chose it because it was a stunning shot, and since no one was injured, it was an easy choice.
The difference, VAST DIFFERENCE between (most) steeplechasing falls and (most) eventing falls is the SPEED. Chasers are running 35 mph. Eventers half that, or wayyy less if hobby horsing into a tight question. Most jump jockeys are thrown clear (Douglas Lees' shot was one of a series - the next several show Haynes tumbling well away.)
Simple difference but well worth noting.

[Albion]

Maybe nobody should be allowed to ride an upper level XC course without at least one solid year of foxhunting first flight with a hunt like the Piedmont. :) Just as jumps racing point to points in England require qualifying letters from the MFH of a recognized hunt.

What good is that going to do with the current trend in courses? Learning to 'send 'em' seems totally counterproductive when courses are asking you to show jump around. I have friends that have been galloping race horses for years and years (and one is training 'chasers now, after working for some of the best in the business) - I'm not sure how much good their experience would do them on an upper level XC. And they are wonderful riders in their own right (entirely aside from any 'track skills') who know how to gallop and jump (even in a pack!), foxhunt regularly, etc.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

Its still there. OMG, how awful. I am so glad we had just left that jump to go to the ducks.

[Gindarkh]

I don't know if anyone else has posted this, but the HorseandHound article about Rolex on their site has included the link to the YouTube video of Laine and Frodo within the article. Just FYI.

[imapepper]

That photo made me a bit queasy :( But I do think that publicity will help prompt some changes in the course design or qualification process. As one of the articles pointed out, that very fence was jumped safely but many other competitors.

Yeah, I ride. I've ridden for over 30yrs on mountain trails, hunter/jumper, reining and dressage. My husband and I have a small ranch and board horses. He ropes. I've owned over 30+ horses of all ages. I've never had one die as a direct result of something I asked it to do. I've had old horses have aneurysms in the field. I've had a horse fall in the pasture ripping around with friends and fracture its pelvis. I've had a horse tear a suspensory when jumping (and earned a good rest and rehab) Sure there are risks. But, a calculable well documented risk of death associated with a sliding stop? or extended trot? or cantering up a hill? or roping a cow? or jumping a 4'6" oxer?

I personally have never evented at a high level but I have had a horse put down because of my bad judgement. Stuff happens :( Believe me, nobody could possibly feel worse about that and nobody else needs to tell me what an awful person I am. I mentally beat myself up for that incident for quite a few years after that. And I will never make that mistake again. This weekend, I took my old horse and his lease kid to a show and he sat back when he was tied to the trailer....resulting in a cut facial artery and some stitches....kid is ok and the horse was ok but....a mistake was made when she tied him and it could have been very bad for both of them. She will probably never make that mistake again. Accidents will happen around horses. If you do something long enough, you will have an accident or make a very costly mistake.

I really don't think that climbing on a soapbox and declaring everyone who events as evil people who do not care about their horses is fair or accurate.

[Mimi La Rue]

"Laine Ashker has not been told of Frodo's death. Her mother said she wants her to have every tool working for her recovery, and that would simply be too large a burden for her daughter to bear."

:cry:

[happyappy]

I will say that when I looked at that picture I was truly sick to my stomach, and tears just rolled down my face. I wished I had not seen it. I had been following the stories on Frodo for sometime, he was a horse with a big heart, and his rider Lanie truly loved him. My daughter is currently competing at BN and seeing those kinds of things just scares the heck out of me, wishing that she had other interests besides horses/eventing, like biking or jogging. This sport is risky and there is no doubt about that. I just have to try to ensure she is getting the best instruction she possibly can, and continuously express to her about riding safely and that if something does not feel quite right with the horse, or the XC course, retire from the segment, it is not worth getting hurt or the horse getting hurt. I don't know what happened with Lanie and Frodo with the exception of what I read as depicted by David OConnor. Lanie will be in my prayers.

[sm]

When I'm listening to all the cry about how the jumps are at fault, I keep thinking about those places in the world that still foxhunt over stone walls. The speeds are slower, of course, but the jumps are far more unforgiving.

I've hacked about and galloped stone walls back in the day, they are far more forgiving since the horse knows what it is and knows the width of it. It isn't one puzzle after the next on an artifical course.

[FrittSkritt]

What is interesting is the (thoroughbred racing) 2007 Eclipse Award for Photography went to Douglas Lees at the Fauquier Times Democrat for his shot titled "Down to Earth" and taken October 24, 2007. The jockey is Will Haynes and his mount, Navesink View (by Holy Bull), tumbling over a fence at the October 20 International Gold Cup Timber S. at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Virginia.

The image here - and worth noting neither horse nor rider were hurt (http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi?id=10138) yet to the casual person both images look pretty much the same.


What I find interesting here is that the jockey is clearly being thrown clear of his horse. Mike E-S mentioned in his safety article that modern saddles help keep riders in the saddle in case they get jostled:

"I mentioned saddles earlier on and one question which is being asked is 'are modern saddles keeping riders in the saddle for longer than the slightly older fashioned ones?' I am sure that the answer to this is yes but do we really want this? Sure we all want to 'not fall off' at a competition because no one likes doing so and there are the obvious penalties that go with this which put you out of the running for a prize, but the counter balance to this is that if a horse is going to fall we, as riders, want to get out of the way as quickly as possible."

Timber racers/steeplechasers (terminology? :D) are going faster than event riders are, and if a jockey falls off, forget it - there's no finishing that race anyway, you'd never catch up, whereas in eventing you're allowed to continue on. So, if there were a rule stating you're eliminated on your first fall, having that sort of "option" to be thrown clear in case that does happen is something to consider. As someone mentioned before, those types of jockeys don't ride the their feet 'home' in the stirrups for that very reason -- if you and your horse are going to go down, you want to do it separately and not be tethered to your saddle.

[La Gringa]

Personally I think it's good for people to see the photos. People themselves can be the ones to choose not to look or not.. For me it's good for people to know what potentially can happen in any horse sport involving jumping and high speed. Humans are an afterthought to a 1200 pound animal. You really get that sense from that horrific second photo of Frodo and Lainey.

I think that anyone wishing to do high risk horse sports need to know exactly what the risks are, and what can and does happen when things go wrong.

Sure it's shocking, but it's also educational. It's for each person to make up their mind weather the sport for them or not, and how to respond to it.

[Glimmerglass]

Glimmerglass
Good point re: the Douglas Lees 2007 Eclipse Award winning photo. I am the editor who elected to use the photo, its position in the paper, its size, and wrote the caption (and accompanying story.)

It is not a light decision. Yes, I chose it because it was a stunning shot, and since no one was injured, it was an easy choice.

The difference, VAST DIFFERENCE between (most) steeplechasing falls and (most) eventing falls is the SPEED. Chasers are running 35 mph. Eventers half that, or wayyy less if hobby horsing into a tight question. Most jump jockeys are thrown clear (Douglas Lees' shot was one of a series - the next several show Haynes tumbling well away.)

Simple difference but well worth noting.

HR, agreed it was an entirely different set of circumstances and outcome. As much as eventers (my self included) think we are quasi steeplechasers when doing XC there are significant speed differences, course differences, and jump designs. I cited the Lees shot because the level of drama it captured clearly was recognized by others, hence winning the Eclipse. A photo in the old cliche does tell a thousand words so (I assume) the Lexington paper used it.

[La Gringa]

"Laine Ashker has not been told of Frodo's death. Her mother said she wants her to have every tool working for her recovery, and that would simply be too large a burden for her daughter to bear."

:cry:

I can understand that, being that she's on a ventalator with every rib broken the last thing she needs is to get upset, and have her lungs fill with fluid. The stress alone could be devistating to her condition right now.

I do feel for her and her family though.. it's going to be very hard when the time comes to tell her the news. :cry:

[JER]

We keep talking about rider responsibility. Then others post here complaining that a news organization runs photos showing the graphic and horrible side of eventing.

Yes, it's graphic. Yes, it's ugly. Yes, we never want to see a horse or rider in that position, with those consequences. But it's also real and it's what happens in eventing when things go awry.

If we insist on sanitizing the news of the sport, how can we expect riders to fully understand the dangers of eventing?

[Liz Chilcott]

Oddly enough, that horse competed the following year with the same rider, Jamie Smart and the infamous hanging log was not on the course.

[vineyridge]

I've hacked about and galloped stone walls back in the day, they are far more forgiving since the horse knows what it is and knows the width of it. It isn't one puzzle after the next on an artifical course.

The wall itself isn't more forgiving; it's horse and rider training and experience that make it "more forgiving". How about Irish banks? And those New Zealand hunters who normally jump wire? I am suggesting that a horse and rider who have put in stints outside of the totally artificial world of competition might be SAFER in that world BECAUSE of that experience.

[sm]

The wall itself isn't more forgiving.


I disagree. How many rotational falls are there in foxhunting from stone walls? And are you saying Darren doesn't have experience to ride safe or to adequately prepare his horses?

[3Dogs]

sad. sad. sad.

as to stone walls - on the hunts I have been on (many), there is usually a "wall man" who reconstructs them after the numerous knock downs of the walls by those "experienced hunters and horses".

Whatever has changed in the world of eventing, the totally immovable obstacle that forgives no degree of "error in judgement" ,which is how this accident is being described, has become an issue. I have seen many a "poor judgement, bad distance" in my years in the H/J world, but when the fence falls down - well - I have never seen a "rotational" fall. Just my lowly two cents on a very heartwrenching story.

[Fallbrook]

I. My husband and I have a small ranch and board horses. He ropes.

And I suppose that poor calf volunteers to be strangled? You are a hypocrite.

[TBCollector]

I want to read this article but can't bear the possibility of even glancing at the photo...seeing it in person was enough. Can anyone copy and paste it, or tell me if there's a way to read it without seeing the photo? Sorry for being so wimpy, but my heart can't take much more.

[sm]

TB, you are not wimpy. I'm afraid to for copyright reasons, but here, I think the editor will send it to you without photo:

"Some will find this photo disturbing. We did not decide lightly to publish it. It depicts in a way that words cannot fully convey exactly what happened. We have printed many photos showing the grace and beauty of this sport; this one illustrates its dangers. To comment, please call me at 859-231-3221 or laustin@herald-leader.com (e-mail%20laustin@herald-leader.com). Linda Austin, Editor"

[roki143]

I want to read this article but can't bear the possibility of even glancing at the photo...seeing it in person was enough. Can anyone copy and paste it, or tell me if there's a way to read it without seeing the photo? Sorry for being so wimpy, but my heart can't take much more.

Here is the link to the printable page which i don't believe has the picture (or at least it doesn't when I view it).

http://www.kentucky.com/779/v-print/story/389828.html

[sm]

yupper, no photo!

[mares tails]

Six horses were euthanized at Keeneland's Fall Meet of 2007. I could be wrong, but I don't recall a photo of any of them on the front page.

Six out of 1603 starters (0.37%)

.

[dressagetraks]

Someone mentioned the Go For Wand photos in Sports Illustrated. I was just thinking of those this morning. As upsetting as the picture of Frodo and Laine is, I do not think it crosses the line from reporting (including sometimes reporting bad things) to sensationalism. The entire set of mutiple photos of GFW being taken down to the track and put down and closeups of her shattered and bleeding and dangling leg (you could see the blood and ligaments and tissues CLEARLY and as a major feature of the shots in full zoom frame) were pure sensationalism, and I have never picked up a copy of SI since. And I told them at the time that I wouldn't.

Laine's fall was tragic, but if we don't want people to see things like that, we should be focusing on how to help prevent them, as several threads are, not on how to sanitize the press. It happened in a public park and broadcast live on the internet. The article and picture are, I think, fair reporting and do not cross the line.

Also, tough a decision as it is, I agree with her family's decision at this point not to tell her. She is in no shape for it and could easily be made worse at this point. My prayers are with them.

[Glimmerglass]

re: Keeneland's Fall Meet of 2007 (fatalities)

Six out of 1603 starters (0.37%)

Not that horse racing stats should really be introduced into this, but from the BloodHorse 4-10-08 (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=44533) you can see from the Jockey Club regarding fatal breakdowns of horse:

The revised figures released by The Jockey Club April 10 show 2.02 fatalities per 1,000 starts on dirt and 1.47 [per 1,000 starts] on synthetic surfaces.

Typically Keeneland and Saratoga because of the number of higher graded stakes races and larger purses tend to attract "better" horses. As such Saratoga for example in 2007 had no fatal breakdowns on dirt and just 1 on turf for the entire meet.

[Alibhai's Alibar]

ArtilleryHill... you're saying they don't print photos and show video of the jockeys and horses that have gone down?
I 100% disagree. I've seen them over and over during the last 30 years. Not every race, but certainly the big names, big races or dramatic falls. As I mentioned earlier, they seem to show them for dramatic effect on silly TV shows for the general public. Here's an awful photo of Gary Stevens laying on the track with the same type of injuries and Laine:
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/17592.htm

My questions is why the extreme response and shock to this photo of Laine Ashker? They've been doing this for years in racing and nobody seems to care. Maybe we're just used to seeing it in racing and not eventing.

I'm going slightly off-topic but I feel the need to clarify here... Gary Stevens' spill and injuries in the article linked above were not the result of a breakdown. While it was scary, it did not result in the death of any humans or horses.

And lots of people care. Photos that are printed/released of racing spills and breakdowns definitely cause debate and discission in the racing community. I agree with LessonLearned that photos like these are part of the journalistic process and it is up the the editor's discretion whether or not to run them.

No matter the sport, it's tragic. My condolences and sympathies to all involved in these accidents.

[One Star]

The whole story is gone now. Nothing is at that link anymore.

It's still there, it's just been relocated.

http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/389828.html

The image is grim, but it's a sobering reminder of what we risk every time we put a foot in the stirrup and ask our horses to trust us.

[Platinum Equestrian]

It's still there, it's just been relocated.

http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/389828.html

The image is grim, but it's a sobering reminder of what we risk every time we put a foot in the stirrup and ask our horses to trust us.


While shockening and saddening, I'm glad they haven't removed the photo. The editor's note gives some insight into why the made the decision to use the photo. Let something positive come from this tragic event.

There is no reason these fences should not give. If I was still an eventer, this is what would make me angry. The fact that there are tools out there to help keep horse and rider safe, and they're not being utilized to the fullest exent possible is senseless. Something needs to be done, and quick, before anymore lives are lost -- needlessly in the name of sport.

[quintessance]

It was on the herold leader also, I wasn't happy to see it on the front page. I had friends standing at that jump when it happened, one seeing the XC for the first time. It was awefull, and I feel for the poor horse that lost his life.

[Glimmerglass]

I'm going slightly off-topic but I feel the need to clarify here... Gary Stevens' spill and injuries in the article linked above were not the result of a breakdown. While it was scary, it did not result in the death of any humans or horses.

The sensationalism of Gary's spill was tied to two things: first it was just before the wire at the Arlington Million (Chicago) which still is a fairly prominant turf race (it was the 1st $1M race in the world) and second this was just after Gary had been in Seabiscuit and the well liked movie was fresh in folks mind.

Stevens was clipped by two trailing horses but missed only three weeks of riding.

Storming Home, who spoked a couple strides before the wire and would've won later won, and Gary were reunited later that year for a victory in the noted Clement Hirsch Turf Stakes.

[HECS04]

The whole story is gone now. Nothing is at that link anymore.

http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/389828.html

It was just moved off the front page


OOOPs, just noticed someone else posted that...sorry for the double post!

[Mariequi]

I thought I was over being shocked, but I am. I also noted the name of the author of the article, Amy Wilson. I have cut out other horse-related articles by Amy because her lack of facts, even though maybe not important, was really exasperating. Now she authors this. Now I'm protesting to the paper. The editor added a note as mentioned and I'm calling now.

Above post - but still in the Lexington hardcopy paper... :(

[Reiterin]

And I suppose that poor calf volunteers to be strangled? You are a hypocrite.

Cattle are raised to be food and must be handled respectfully and appropriately. A ranch hand must practice his skill and craft in order to do it as quickly and humanely as possible. Roping them is the ONLY means of catching and controlling an animal to treat it. Practice cattle wear guards to keep them from getting rope burns and are used carefully and minimally. Not that any of that matters to you. But, it should if you eat beef at all.

Eventers are sending their horses galloping at a large immovable fences praying not to make a mistake that will cost it its life in a recreational activity Not a life sustaining food production activity. BIG DIFFERENCE!

I'd like to think the sport wasn't cruel, but what other word is there for knowingly accepting such a high risk and purposely creating those risks? Why can't a jump like that basket be made of gates that hang on cups even if a deep cup? Why does the fence HAVE to be unforgiving? Really what's the point?

[ponygrl]

Cattle are raised to be food and must be handled respectfully and appropriately. A ranch hand must practice his skill and craft in order to do it as quickly and humanely as possible. Roping them is the ONLY means of catching and controlling an animal to treat it. Practice cattle wear guards to keep them from getting rope burns and are used carefully and minimally. Not that any of that matters to you. But, it should if you eat beef at all.

Eventers are sending their horses galloping at a large immovable fences praying not to make a mistake that will cost it its life in a recreational activity Not a life sustaining food production activity. BIG DIFFERENCE!

I'd like to think the sport wasn't cruel, but what other word is there for knowingly accepting such a high risk and purposely creating those risks? Why can't a jump like that basket be made of gates that hang on cups even if a deep cup? Why does the fence HAVE to be unforgiving? Really what's the point?

how many competitive ropers are actual ranchers? I'd bet not all - so there are people roping for recreation as well.

[SpicyMonarch]

Oh wow...that picture is extremely shocking. But, it is the reality of the situation. Notice the people just standing in the background of the photo...just so shocked.

It's truly tragic and disturbing, but I think that the general public needs to be able to see what happened on that tragic day.

[Gindarkh]

Here is a link to the Editor's Feedback on the article, picture, and response : http://herald-leader.typepad.com/behind_the_headlines/2008/04/reaction-mixed.html.

Warning ! Pictures still attached to this link !

[TBCollector]

Thank you all...
The article had some exasperating mistakes but I was amazed at Valerie Ashker's grace under incredible stress and pressure.
I cannot, and will not, look at these types of photos in news pubs. But I fully understand and agree that they belong, if they enhance and illustrate the accompanying story. This one certainly did.

[AKDragooPhoto]

As a note, there are photo winners of breakdowns. Read the judge's comments on why it won the best action. You may not agree, and feel it is just sensational. But then again I find the grand prize winner just as disturbing, and it is not a horse.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1962