@laughterbuddies0 I readh that that is part of it, maybe it's colic. Also, just like when we favor one leg due to injury of the other, the leg we favor gets stressed. That stress is a lot for a horse to take.
Barbaro came very close to surviving, which was sad.
She was a champ, she may be gone but never forgotten, she will always be known as the filly who left 18 colts in the dust, i recon if she had a few more metres, she would have passed big brown
@EquineEthic1 i totally agree, yet i still dont see y the owners notice that, they dont seem to notice, i guess their just to focused in winning. , they'r breeding their bones out :[ , thats so sad
@flaka561 They want their horse to be the fastest and the prettiest and be able to run the longest and they want them to be the biggest and the most classy. So they breed until they get that but they forget about everything else. My thoroughbred has the worst feet because they didn't care about how his feet were when they started breeding horses.
@EquineEthic1 And what they got was Secretariat and Barbaro, Barbaro and Secretariat where not inbred, they where pure, Barbaro was acting odd on the day and he stummbled as he went out the gates, not to mention breaking out of the gates before the race, he lost his life to laminitis, not his injuries, Secretariat lived a full happy life
@RayGordon4a I dont believe that is the case. Laminitis would not cause a horse to break his leg. A broken leg has nothing to do with something to do with the hoof. If it was the cause, They would have pulled him out due to limping.
@katnjas i think you aren't understanding katnjas comment. They are right. His laminitis happened because he broke his back right leg. Forcing him to put more weight on his left hind hoof. That caused the laminitis. Due to his two hind legs being bad.. he started putting more weight on his front ones and as a result.. got the laminitis in both front legs. Meaning none of his legs were now healthy to support him without him having to suffer. So weak bones = broken leg = laminitis = dying.
@EquineEthic1 Was your TB off the track? If so, of course he's got bad feet. The big name TBs are not bred like that because every single part of the horse has to work perfectly to have a good career - and a lasting one if you want horses like Z or Secretariat. Most off the track TBs were not fast enough and weren't put together right. It also depends where you get your horse from. Not everyone breeds like Claiborne or other top farms out there. I should know. I'm an Equine Science major.
@chakrabender46 Racehorses are bred for speed. Everytime two racehorses are bred together, like Zenyatta and Bernardini, they are bred for speed and stamina not their bones. When they're bred to bring out certain qualities, the others shrink. The reason why Zenyatta and them have great feet is because they're on hoof supplements, their feet are treated with stuff everyday and very well taken care of and they're in top stalls.
@chakrabender46 Yes, he is an OTTB. You're contradicting yourself, now you're saying "of course he has bad feet." All racehorses are bred the same, nothing is different about them if you think about it, except that some are faster than others. They're breeding them for the purpose of being bigger and faster, it's like people breeding ponies smaller and smaller until they got minnies.
@EquineEthic1 Um, no. Any breeder that does do that is not recognized - I mean, have you heard of big name breeders that breed incorrectly? Course not. Because good breeders should know what to breed and what not to breed. Like i said before, every part of the horse has to work. Bad bones and bad feet - what if you had that, and you were a runner? Well, the doctor would say don't run anymore. Your body can't handle it. Same thing with horses. Common sense people.
everyone please stop fighting!she died because her jockey stopped her when she was going as fast as her legs could carry her and that mean 1200 pounds of pressure on those fronts.that means she broke both and collapsed,causing death.
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she, had been a he, it would have never happened. She was murdered by her own sindicate. Touble is you people hate the truth."
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she, had been a he, it would have never happened. She was murdered by her own sindicate."
There is nothing wrong with this sport!! its a tough sport, only the strong survive in it! so get over it, there not going to ban the sport just because some people don't like it, so get over it
@ShowjumpingChick94 You're missing the facts, it had nothing to do with the Jockey, the trainer, or the Owner, it was a FREAK TRAGIC ACCIDENT.... you can't explain it, you can't predict it. horses are born to run, free or otherwise, just like with Barbaro you hate to see it happen, but I'm sure the horse wouldn't have wanted to go out any other way. You're not wrong on the fact that she loved to run, and I'm sure not all of them love the jockeys, but it's just what they do.
@Theaterman527 I realise that it may not have been their fault directly but should this sport not exist, these horses would be far happier galloping for the sheer joy.
I'm quite positive the horses would rather die in their sleep or just in their paddocks.
@ShowjumpingChick94 and should cars, planes, trains, boats not exist, we wouldn't have the thousands of ACCIDENTS that occur within them that claim so many human lives either. Things happen.
@ShowjumpingChick94 no, IDIOT, the point from the post I JUST REPLIED TO ORIGINALLY. Just how dense are you? No wonder you spew so much nonsensical garbage.
@samsam29 Lovey, I think you need to rethink your wording, since technically, I don't eat garbage so therefore I can't spew it up, and my original comment was about midgets whipping horses to run.
Someone needs to go back to pre school....
Besides, those things are necessary for transport, horse-racing is only there to entertain and boost the gambling economy.
@ShowjumpingChick94 would you have us engaged in perpetual insults for all time? Someone has to get tired of the bs first. Although frankly, I hadn't read your last reply until now. Still, this conversation grew stale for me months ago, no need to rekindle it. Are you that bored? xD
@samsam29 Hah, believe me, I also got tired of the bullshit, so I apologise for being bored and in a fucked off mood, and yes that is a legit apology, not sarcasm. Sorry lmaaoo
It was the humane thing to do. A horse carries 60% of its body weight on its FRONT legs. It would have taken a huge effort to heal her and even if she did heal, she would not be able to walk normally again. It comes down to quality of life. But I do agree with you that for may ppl (not all of them) in horseracing it's just a business looking to make a profit off these fine animals.
@cleanfancycircle Couldn't have been stopped? Yes, actually it could have. Not breeding the horses like they do would help, also Not running them would stop it. It is tragic, but it could have been stopped.
@kandantor Yeah.... Let's just take out an event that's been run for over 135 years because that just makes perfect sense.... Listen before you speak.... Could it have been stopped sure.... Unfortunately no one saw this coming.... it's not like they looked into the future and said "Gee this horse will break her front two ankles after running in the Derby... Ah... Let's run her anyways." There is no way this coulda been stopped unless Ms. Cleo was her trainer.
@Theaterman527 Okay, so it makes to total sense to continue something that has been killing horses for over 135 years? You tell me to listen before I speak, you should be following your own fucking advice, asshole. It could have been stopped and it SHOULD have been stopped.
@kandantor If you would actually do your research, on other "broadcasted breakdowns" such as Ruffian, youd see that 99% of the time it is the horse's will and desire to keep running that kills him. The horse trips, breaks a bone, and has the desire to keep running even though the jockey tries hard to pull him up.
These horses love to run. Try telling me Zenyatta, with her ears pricked as she comes from DEAD LAST to cross the wire first, she doesnt love what she does.
@ForeverHoofbeats Exactly. and the thing with ruffian is they had her stabilized except as soon as the drugs wore off, she started thrashing around and broke something else.
Horses of any breed are bred for one purpose and that is too perform. Thoroughbreds in my mind are the best. The way they look and the way they run. Take away the purpose and you take away the horse. Hey PETA, horses are not bred for pets like your little chiwawa.
What you are really trying to do with your protesting is make horses extinct because once the purpose is gone there is no reason for them to exist.
poor girl, what a beauty, what a spirit. she had a big heart and certainly gave those boys a run for their money. there will never be another filly like her.
I totally agree with u why did they euthanize her?!?! it just makes me sick that people can do that to a horse and not even care about the horse, just the money.
@Hedgehogz276 woah i dont think you understand me i hate peta i liked this horse and she was an amazing racer. It sucks she died but it was kind of her fault, she swithched leads fell and snapped both ankles. I like racing and she put up a valian effort that day. And people do care about this horses death especially the people closest to it. It is a shame she had to be put to sleep tho
@Hedgehogz276 It was the humane thing to do. A horse carries 60% of its body weight on it FRONT legs. It would have taken a huge effort to heal her and even if she did heal, she would not be able to walk normally again. It comes down to quality of life. But I do agree with you that for may ppl (not all of them) in horseracing it's just a business looking to make a profit off these fine animals.
Okay Vet in he house, I'm sorry to say but when Eight Belles broke down, she broke/shattered both seismond bones in her front ankles or feltlocks. Yes a freak accident but the track surfaces can become better. I've seen an incurance of horses that shouldn't be raced, being run on race day and to say the least nothing is being done to protect them.
I do agree that they do race these horses WAY too young. Throughbreds were bred to run, and the owners/breeders/trainers do take into accout the horse before entering them. But you never hear PETA people bitch about barral racing. Quater horses were bred for that, just like throughbred were bred for racing. I had a Quater horse barral racer who broke his leg while taking a turn around a barral. It can happen no matter what breed of horse it is.
yea my horse broke his leg not too long ago. we had to put them down. even wild horses leave ones that are injured because theres no way of healing them
if you look very closly right before she broke down she swiched leads wile running FAST which in this case tripped compleatly on accident and fell and ended up dieing...its so sad....i dont know who PETA are but from reading the comments there ideots who dont know what they are doing.... :D
what was so special (i dont follow horse racing) about this horse its a normal horse infact i have been wanting to say this bu D-D-D-D-D-AYYYYYYYYYYYYYM THAT HORSE AT SHIT
So such a dam*n sh*it. I thought she died like other racehorses do it in races. But now I know why she died: she came out of rhythm, and that for 4 seconds. If the Kentucky Derby wouldn´t be so hard, she could life now. -.-
Every person in this state hates to see anything like this happen to ANY horse. After this happened it was very solemn around here in my town. I as well as most Kentuckians take a death like this personally it is a tragic freak accident.
@NIGRO50 the horse didnt give up, i can assure you. she was an amazing performer. in the slow motion, i now catch it. right before she broke, she switched leads. i dont know if anyone else caught this. but it looks to me that the lead change set her off. she broke both front ankles, im not sure in which places, but she did.
@kaitykate95 I did see that, after watching this vid (and I rode horses for 10 years, including ex-racers, as a kid)....I'm not sure that changing leads would've led to this, race horses change leads frequently during turns....I blame the breeders, who don't seem to give a crap about horses with strong legs....PETA is full of shit about TBs, they were born to run....but I do have reservations about running them so young and the drugs they use to enhance performance.
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Edgeacebeaglebrady, so according to you all PETA members are ill informed idiots and this was just a freak accident? not taking into account that she was only 2yrs old, made to run till she could take anymore, of course the jockey did wrong, what he just sat on her back and watched the world go by? they dont run because they love it they run because they have no choice, they are made to do it so humans can make money out of them.
I see we have some ill informed PETA members here. SHe didn't break down because she ran against the males, like PETA claimed. See Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra and Genuine Risk,etc Those gals ran against males and came out just fine. The jockey didn't do anything wrong either. This was a freak accident, however, I do believe the inbreeding, and drug use does contribute to breakdowns.
I entirely agree with you..however, there were tests completed post-humously and she was found to have no steroids in her system. If these are not the "drugs" to which you were referring, i apologize. This in the end could have been a result of breeding for speed instead of stamina and conformation. I believe if the industry gets back to balance the two, we can produce powerful, yet strong and resilient animals.
@jDUBzGurl08 I do think that there should be a balance of speed and stamina/conformation. Definitely. What kills me about PETA is that they spread so much misinformation about the sport, especially when something unfortunate like this happens, just to get publicity.
@edgeacebeaglebrady The horses are bred to have thin ankles because it makes them faster. It also makes them more prone to suffer fatal injuries like these. That is what happened to Eight Bells. Other easy things to do to reform the sport while keeping it competitive would be to mandate synthetic turf race tracks at every professional venue and disallowing horses under the age of 3 from competing. It is long overdue and would not compromise the sport.
@edgeacebeaglebrady she wasn't inbred both of her front ankles broke and she wasn't on steriods or any other drugs she some Thoroughbreds do that because they put some much weight on their front legs
I agree Dixie. If you look at their family tree a lot of them will have either Native Dancer, Northern Dancer, or Mr. Prospector. Native Dancer never had good bone strength and past it on through the generations.
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Owners were that broke? Had to put the girl in with the boys to try and prove something? Their reward...the death of a great horse. Whatever pain they feel...they deserve!
Thoroughbreds are inbred to much and my horse about a year and a half ago got a suspensory ligament and it took her 9 months to recover and I had to take it easy. But I think that racing horses at such a young age makes them break down more than horses who aren't ridden until they are three or four.
This just breaks my heart, I can't stand it! But what we must remember is this isn't just happening to horses in the Derby. There are so many accidents on track we don't know nor hear about. We must remember that this is not a once in a lifetime thing. This tragedy happens almost every day.
At least she died doing what she loves to do!
Rest in Peace Eight Belles, you've opened peoples eyes, and maybe we can all try to make a difference.
Yeah, but Thoroughbreds already have thousands of pounds of pressure on their cannon bones and they're kept extremely light. I'm not sure draft bone/mass would benefit them. They need new blood, but the lines are so inbred I'm not sure how they could do it.
@StableBabe I would breed in some saddlebred: they don't have the breakdown problems of TBs and though they are a bit slower they are not as nervous and they do make fairly decent racers.
She may have been trying to avoid something on the track as the reason for her unusual break in stride but if you watch the video very closely, as I have a million times, she has a break in stride and stumbles. She then falls due probably to a combination of speed/inertia, fatigue and footing. I believe that the actual fractures are a result of her falling forward and sliding with her front legs under her.
I have watched this several times, and the choice of music is probably the reason. It perfectly captures her tragic end. The music conveys what the heart cannot speak: perfection, beauty, excellence, and death.
moonwhisper101: He didn't. He was only SLOWING HER DOWN and COOLING HER OUT because this happened AFTER the race. You should learn about horses and horse racing. It would help you understand about the fall.
You can see pretty well how she fell. my arm was throbbin when I watched this. Just the way she landed. It might've been the lead change. idk. but then again, I dont think it was the lead change.
no, it was the lead change, dressage horses are trained and trained and trained and they are going slower than she is and they are at least 10 years old. read up.
No it was not a lead change if you look close she tried to jump something,But God it was so ugly because you could see the leg like slide out and lay flat
The lead change wasn't why her ankles broke. Her ankles were weak, had she not have been a young racehorse this might not have happened. It isn't fair to say that you hate flying lead changes because of what happened to this filly, dressage horses do flying leads changes down the center line one after the other in the ring and they are fine. She broke down because people don't know how to breed good, solid racehorses anymore. I did a study on racehorses now and in the past, they have changed.
I have examined this 1 million times, if you look close enough the reason why she changed her lead was because there was a big hole in front of her. I could actually see it coming. The Filly could have survived if they wanted to try, but going through that pain all her life would be worse. And the chance of her living for ong would have been minor. It reminds me of my thoroughbred in Australia, He sliced his tendon in trackwork due to a shape on the sand track, he attempted to jump it.
they seriesly killed the god damn horse because it couldn't fucking race anymore!!!! i hate ppl like that just becuase a horse become crippled dosen't mean its life should end!
That's true; she shouldn't have been put to death just because she couldn't race - here's the thing: for a horse, one broken leg is sometimes enough to sign their death warrant. It goes beyond being disabled, hon: A horse is made to eat and run - they have to run, and lying down holds consequences (negative ones). As sad as it is - especially if this was in the wild - it's probably the 'kindest' thing to do, put the horse down. :( It's not nice at all, but this is a horrid fact about horses.
It is terrible, but to give you some insight...I am a student at a community college and my professor asked if any of us had seen on the news what happened at Del Mar race track? Then she told us, she was there. She went on to describe how it was the most horrific sound she had ever heard come out of an animal.
It wouldn't be any life for her. She was a strong, fast horse...being in a stall for the rest of her life would have been awful. It was best thing they could have possibly done for her. Its very sad though...
She wouldn't even be able to stand. She snapped both front ankles and keeping her alive would have caused her more pain. If she was able to stand, they would have kept her alive. But she couldn't. When she tried standing, she collapsed.
Horses are creatures that need to stand, and they also need to run; now, being in captivity/bred in captivity, that part of their lives has somewhat changed. Still, lying down can be dangerous business for a horse; as well, a broken leg - while 'simple' for humans - is devastating to an equine. Having two broken legs - she, as they stated, literally had 'no leg to stand on.'
Yeah, that would be some serious talent coming out of Eight Belles if that happened. I don't know who Curlin would be matched up with since, I think, he's retired now.
Eight Belles was an amzing filly. Even though I was only 10 years old, I knew Eight Belles was a wonderful filly before the race even started. I cryed when she fell and .....died. Eight Belles will always be in my heart, even though I never knew her. It felt like I did know her, though. I can't explain it, but it felt like we were ....sisters. I know it might sound silly or wierd to some people, but it's true. Watching her die was like watching my sister die. I will always love you Eight Belles!
Okay,Ruffian4Ever,I do agree. Horses don't have ankles, some even mix up the fetlock and the forelock. Eight Bells broke her sesamoid bones which supports the horse's weight, since when Ruffian broke her sesamoid bones, she had no support on the fetlock. My horse also broke his sesamoid bone, and his vet called the area the fetlock. My horse didn't shatter his sesamoids,so he still had ankle support.
the horse fell over and broke its legs. honestly how is a horse going to come back from something like that. if my horse fell like that, as much as i love him, i wouldnt want him to suffer.
@musicfreak6730 I believe you can repair the injured leg with pins, (if repairable) however the other leg usually gets laminitis. I don't think inbreeding and drug use has as much to do with the breakdowns as does the fact they are starting the careers of these animals at the age of 2. They are babies that are already prone to injury, they then add the problem of keeping them in a stall all day turning them 'stall stupid'. Its amazing they don't ALL break their legs.
She switches leads in the strangest way and then withers in pain the next stride just before she collapses. Strange...
xxURMABOOxx 2 weeks ago
Ruffian ALL over again. :'(
WhiskeyCreekQH 1 month ago 2
RIP eight belles we love you
Leelou713 1 month ago
R.i.p eight belles x x x
myhorses4ever 4 months ago
Poor 8 bells!!
ruffianruleswolfrule 5 months ago
this is so sad :'(
MrPosada2 6 months ago
cant see anything!
HuntrJumpr67 6 months ago
@laughterbuddies0 I readh that that is part of it, maybe it's colic. Also, just like when we favor one leg due to injury of the other, the leg we favor gets stressed. That stress is a lot for a horse to take.
Barbaro came very close to surviving, which was sad.
RayGordon4a 7 months ago
@laughterbuddies0 Also if they can't stand on all fours it messes up their stomac really bad.
RayGordon4a 7 months ago
wat happened
infrcowgirl112 7 months ago
Unbridled's Song and his fragile get... so tragic.
TheTetrarch 7 months ago
You guys are talking breeding, she took a bad step and PETA wanted to blame something else so they did, it was just unlucky
allen3peace 7 months ago
HOJE 3 ANOS SEM EIGHT BELLES EU A AMO, REST IN PEACE, : ( anderson do BRASIL
DutraAnderson 9 months ago
HOJE 3 ANOS SEM EIGHT BELLES REST IN PEACE, : (
DutraAnderson 9 months ago
Thats odd, i watched, and her legs were off the ground when she fells
katnjas 11 months ago
She was a champ, she may be gone but never forgotten, she will always be known as the filly who left 18 colts in the dust, i recon if she had a few more metres, she would have passed big brown
RIP Eight Belles
katnjas 11 months ago
The song is pretty good
BackstretchUnderdog 11 months ago
Thoroughbreds are bred to run and to have the stamina and speed at etc, therefore resulting in bad feet and bad bones.
EquineEthic1 1 year ago
@EquineEthic1 i totally agree, yet i still dont see y the owners notice that, they dont seem to notice, i guess their just to focused in winning. , they'r breeding their bones out :[ , thats so sad
flaka561 1 year ago
@flaka561 They want their horse to be the fastest and the prettiest and be able to run the longest and they want them to be the biggest and the most classy. So they breed until they get that but they forget about everything else. My thoroughbred has the worst feet because they didn't care about how his feet were when they started breeding horses.
EquineEthic1 11 months ago
@EquineEthic1 And what they got was Secretariat and Barbaro, Barbaro and Secretariat where not inbred, they where pure, Barbaro was acting odd on the day and he stummbled as he went out the gates, not to mention breaking out of the gates before the race, he lost his life to laminitis, not his injuries, Secretariat lived a full happy life
katnjas 11 months ago
@katnjas The laminitis was a direct result of his injuries, as taking pressure off the injured leg caused the laminitis in the other leg.
RayGordon4a 7 months ago
@RayGordon4a I dont believe that is the case. Laminitis would not cause a horse to break his leg. A broken leg has nothing to do with something to do with the hoof. If it was the cause, They would have pulled him out due to limping.
katnjas 7 months ago
@katnjas i think you aren't understanding katnjas comment. They are right. His laminitis happened because he broke his back right leg. Forcing him to put more weight on his left hind hoof. That caused the laminitis. Due to his two hind legs being bad.. he started putting more weight on his front ones and as a result.. got the laminitis in both front legs. Meaning none of his legs were now healthy to support him without him having to suffer. So weak bones = broken leg = laminitis = dying.
Kayiko 6 months ago
@Kayiko Thannk you but why dsid you send it to me?
katnjas 6 months ago
@EquineEthic1 Was your TB off the track? If so, of course he's got bad feet. The big name TBs are not bred like that because every single part of the horse has to work perfectly to have a good career - and a lasting one if you want horses like Z or Secretariat. Most off the track TBs were not fast enough and weren't put together right. It also depends where you get your horse from. Not everyone breeds like Claiborne or other top farms out there. I should know. I'm an Equine Science major.
chakrabender46 10 months ago
@chakrabender46 Racehorses are bred for speed. Everytime two racehorses are bred together, like Zenyatta and Bernardini, they are bred for speed and stamina not their bones. When they're bred to bring out certain qualities, the others shrink. The reason why Zenyatta and them have great feet is because they're on hoof supplements, their feet are treated with stuff everyday and very well taken care of and they're in top stalls.
EquineEthic1 10 months ago
@chakrabender46 Yes, he is an OTTB. You're contradicting yourself, now you're saying "of course he has bad feet." All racehorses are bred the same, nothing is different about them if you think about it, except that some are faster than others. They're breeding them for the purpose of being bigger and faster, it's like people breeding ponies smaller and smaller until they got minnies.
EquineEthic1 10 months ago
@EquineEthic1 *minis
EquineEthic1 10 months ago
@EquineEthic1 Um, no. Any breeder that does do that is not recognized - I mean, have you heard of big name breeders that breed incorrectly? Course not. Because good breeders should know what to breed and what not to breed. Like i said before, every part of the horse has to work. Bad bones and bad feet - what if you had that, and you were a runner? Well, the doctor would say don't run anymore. Your body can't handle it. Same thing with horses. Common sense people.
chakrabender46 10 months ago
Eight Belles sure didn't have nine lives!
1AndOnlyChosen1 1 year ago
everyone please stop fighting!she died because her jockey stopped her when she was going as fast as her legs could carry her and that mean 1200 pounds of pressure on those fronts.that means she broke both and collapsed,causing death.
xxTraditionalsxx 1 year ago
Horseracing is the sport of kings and royalty is illegal in the United States.
etbella3 1 year ago
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she, had been a he, it would have never happened. She was murdered by her own sindicate. Touble is you people hate the truth."
Grifiki 1 year ago
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she, had been a he, it would have never happened. She was murdered by her own sindicate."
Grifiki 1 year ago
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she, had been a he, it would have never happened."
Grifiki 1 year ago
"No!!!!!!!! She broke down because she is a filly. Insurance fraud.. If she had been a he, it would have never happened."
Grifiki 1 year ago
There is nothing wrong with this sport!! its a tough sport, only the strong survive in it! so get over it, there not going to ban the sport just because some people don't like it, so get over it
smartcowgirl 1 year ago
@smartcowgirl noooo nothing wrong I just can laugh about you
YuUlLiIaA 1 year ago
the horses love to run! eight belles ended her life doing something she loved.
cleanfancycircle 1 year ago
@cleanfancycircle She may have loved to run but I doubt she loved running with a midget on her back flogging her..
ShowjumpingChick94 1 year ago
@ShowjumpingChick94 You're missing the facts, it had nothing to do with the Jockey, the trainer, or the Owner, it was a FREAK TRAGIC ACCIDENT.... you can't explain it, you can't predict it. horses are born to run, free or otherwise, just like with Barbaro you hate to see it happen, but I'm sure the horse wouldn't have wanted to go out any other way. You're not wrong on the fact that she loved to run, and I'm sure not all of them love the jockeys, but it's just what they do.
Theaterman527 1 year ago
@Theaterman527 I realise that it may not have been their fault directly but should this sport not exist, these horses would be far happier galloping for the sheer joy.
I'm quite positive the horses would rather die in their sleep or just in their paddocks.
ShowjumpingChick94 1 year ago
@ShowjumpingChick94 and should cars, planes, trains, boats not exist, we wouldn't have the thousands of ACCIDENTS that occur within them that claim so many human lives either. Things happen.
samsam29 1 year ago
@samsam29 That makes no sense..
ShowjumpingChick94 1 year ago
@ShowjumpingChick94 that's the point. It makes as much sense as your brilliant idea
samsam29 1 year ago
@samsam29 You mean my original point? That she wouldn't have wanted a midget whipping her?
Idiot.
ShowjumpingChick94 1 year ago
@ShowjumpingChick94 no, IDIOT, the point from the post I JUST REPLIED TO ORIGINALLY. Just how dense are you? No wonder you spew so much nonsensical garbage.
samsam29 1 year ago
@samsam29 Lovey, I think you need to rethink your wording, since technically, I don't eat garbage so therefore I can't spew it up, and my original comment was about midgets whipping horses to run.
Someone needs to go back to pre school....
Besides, those things are necessary for transport, horse-racing is only there to entertain and boost the gambling economy.
Your insults are so not offensive sweetie :)
ShowjumpingChick94 1 year ago
@samsam29 Funny how you can't reply XD
ShowjumpingChick94 9 months ago
@ShowjumpingChick94 would you have us engaged in perpetual insults for all time? Someone has to get tired of the bs first. Although frankly, I hadn't read your last reply until now. Still, this conversation grew stale for me months ago, no need to rekindle it. Are you that bored? xD
samsam29 9 months ago
@samsam29 Hah, believe me, I also got tired of the bullshit, so I apologise for being bored and in a fucked off mood, and yes that is a legit apology, not sarcasm. Sorry lmaaoo
ShowjumpingChick94 9 months ago
@Theaterman527 both of her front ankles broke someThoroughbreds do that because they put some much weight on their front legs
horsesaremylife31899 1 year ago
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It was the humane thing to do. A horse carries 60% of its body weight on its FRONT legs. It would have taken a huge effort to heal her and even if she did heal, she would not be able to walk normally again. It comes down to quality of life. But I do agree with you that for may ppl (not all of them) in horseracing it's just a business looking to make a profit off these fine animals.
SouthTexasGal830 1 year ago
this was sad and tragic but it couldnt of been stoped
cleanfancycircle 1 year ago
@cleanfancycircle Couldn't have been stopped? Yes, actually it could have. Not breeding the horses like they do would help, also Not running them would stop it. It is tragic, but it could have been stopped.
kandantor 1 year ago
@kandantor Yeah.... Let's just take out an event that's been run for over 135 years because that just makes perfect sense.... Listen before you speak.... Could it have been stopped sure.... Unfortunately no one saw this coming.... it's not like they looked into the future and said "Gee this horse will break her front two ankles after running in the Derby... Ah... Let's run her anyways." There is no way this coulda been stopped unless Ms. Cleo was her trainer.
Theaterman527 1 year ago
@Theaterman527 Okay, so it makes to total sense to continue something that has been killing horses for over 135 years? You tell me to listen before I speak, you should be following your own fucking advice, asshole. It could have been stopped and it SHOULD have been stopped.
kandantor 1 year ago
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ForeverHoofbeats 1 year ago
@kandantor If you would actually do your research, on other "broadcasted breakdowns" such as Ruffian, youd see that 99% of the time it is the horse's will and desire to keep running that kills him. The horse trips, breaks a bone, and has the desire to keep running even though the jockey tries hard to pull him up.
These horses love to run. Try telling me Zenyatta, with her ears pricked as she comes from DEAD LAST to cross the wire first, she doesnt love what she does.
ForeverHoofbeats 1 year ago
@ForeverHoofbeats Exactly. and the thing with ruffian is they had her stabilized except as soon as the drugs wore off, she started thrashing around and broke something else.
EquineEthic1 1 year ago
Horses of any breed are bred for one purpose and that is too perform. Thoroughbreds in my mind are the best. The way they look and the way they run. Take away the purpose and you take away the horse. Hey PETA, horses are not bred for pets like your little chiwawa.
What you are really trying to do with your protesting is make horses extinct because once the purpose is gone there is no reason for them to exist.
PETA MEMBERS NEED TO STOP BREEDING
COUNTRYROADZ 1 year ago
poor girl, what a beauty, what a spirit. she had a big heart and certainly gave those boys a run for their money. there will never be another filly like her.
ZeroGal5 1 year ago
FUCK YOU PETA you know nothing about this horse, get off youtube and go scream bullshit at a slaughter house, fucking retart motherfuckers.
R.I.P. Eight Bells and dont let peta stomp all over your death in racehorse heaven, their just a bunch of cocksuckers
DemonChinChilla355 1 year ago
@DemonChinChilla355
I totally agree with u why did they euthanize her?!?! it just makes me sick that people can do that to a horse and not even care about the horse, just the money.
Hedgehogz276 1 year ago
@Hedgehogz276 woah i dont think you understand me i hate peta i liked this horse and she was an amazing racer. It sucks she died but it was kind of her fault, she swithched leads fell and snapped both ankles. I like racing and she put up a valian effort that day. And people do care about this horses death especially the people closest to it. It is a shame she had to be put to sleep tho
DemonChinChilla355 1 year ago
@DemonChinChilla355
oh yah srry. i just really luved that horse. I get kinda angry when horses have to be put down
Hedgehogz276 1 year ago
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SouthTexasGal830 1 year ago
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@Hedgehogz276 It was the humane thing to do. A horse carries 60% of its body weight on it FRONT legs. It would have taken a huge effort to heal her and even if she did heal, she would not be able to walk normally again. It comes down to quality of life. But I do agree with you that for may ppl (not all of them) in horseracing it's just a business looking to make a profit off these fine animals.
SouthTexasGal830 1 year ago
Okay Vet in he house, I'm sorry to say but when Eight Belles broke down, she broke/shattered both seismond bones in her front ankles or feltlocks. Yes a freak accident but the track surfaces can become better. I've seen an incurance of horses that shouldn't be raced, being run on race day and to say the least nothing is being done to protect them.
Royalstar2010 1 year ago
I do agree that they do race these horses WAY too young. Throughbreds were bred to run, and the owners/breeders/trainers do take into accout the horse before entering them. But you never hear PETA people bitch about barral racing. Quater horses were bred for that, just like throughbred were bred for racing. I had a Quater horse barral racer who broke his leg while taking a turn around a barral. It can happen no matter what breed of horse it is.
Hate2BUmun 1 year ago
yea my horse broke his leg not too long ago. we had to put them down. even wild horses leave ones that are injured because theres no way of healing them
DancingHippoYillie 1 year ago
Did anyone notice she did a flying lead change and the collapsed?
RandomDreamer2 1 year ago
if they would wait till the horses were fully grown at around age 5 there would be alot let fatalities on the race track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
barboro1 1 year ago
This is what happens when they race horses to young
tammyks66 1 year ago
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94gunsmoke 1 year ago
if you look very closly right before she broke down she swiched leads wile running FAST which in this case tripped compleatly on accident and fell and ended up dieing...its so sad....i dont know who PETA are but from reading the comments there ideots who dont know what they are doing.... :D
SeeYaOnSondee 1 year ago
what was so special (i dont follow horse racing) about this horse its a normal horse infact i have been wanting to say this bu D-D-D-D-D-AYYYYYYYYYYYYYM THAT HORSE AT SHIT
DeeBagHunter2000 1 year ago
@DeeBagHunter2000 UGH WHAT? WRITE IN PROPER ENGLISH
whatthefuckubrat 1 year ago
So such a dam*n sh*it. I thought she died like other racehorses do it in races. But now I know why she died: she came out of rhythm, and that for 4 seconds. If the Kentucky Derby wouldn´t be so hard, she could life now. -.-
Rimfaxe96 1 year ago
rip eight belles :(
RosesareAllie 1 year ago
Every person in this state hates to see anything like this happen to ANY horse. After this happened it was very solemn around here in my town. I as well as most Kentuckians take a death like this personally it is a tragic freak accident.
TheCatFan21 1 year ago
This song is beautiful! Is it available anywhere?
KalistaMoonwolf 1 year ago
Wow. How far ahead was she?
Iloveorliandwicked 1 year ago
@Iloveorliandwicked she came second after big brown, this was 100 paces after the finish line.
kaitykate95 1 year ago
@kaitykate95 Well, that's still pretty good. Poor girl though!
Iloveorliandwicked 1 year ago
ocharme da paaaard :(
shaaauuunni 1 year ago
Where did you get this track from? I can't seem to find it anywhere, it's beautiful.
Such a sad thing to see such beautiful horses lost in their prime :(
TheWooblet 1 year ago
man that poor jockey! cant believe that horse just gave up like that does anyone know if he is ok?
NIGRO50 1 year ago
@NIGRO50 yes, the jockey is ok. im actually good friends with gabriel and spent a whole day with him last saturday. dont worry hes fine
TheHahaman22 1 year ago
@NIGRO50 the horse didnt give up, i can assure you. she was an amazing performer. in the slow motion, i now catch it. right before she broke, she switched leads. i dont know if anyone else caught this. but it looks to me that the lead change set her off. she broke both front ankles, im not sure in which places, but she did.
kaitykate95 1 year ago
@kaitykate95 I did see that, after watching this vid (and I rode horses for 10 years, including ex-racers, as a kid)....I'm not sure that changing leads would've led to this, race horses change leads frequently during turns....I blame the breeders, who don't seem to give a crap about horses with strong legs....PETA is full of shit about TBs, they were born to run....but I do have reservations about running them so young and the drugs they use to enhance performance.
vgoth100 1 year ago
@NIGRO50
You just care about the jockey and the money you can earn ? The horse didn't gave up, she broke her two front legs.
anniizk 1 year ago
She broke both of her front ankles and collapsed. There was no way for her to be saved.
PhillyFanatic87 1 year ago
lol
silkey650 1 year ago
Lisa she was 3. You hardly ever make the money back that you put into this sport. You can tell by their body language when they want to run.
21Sarabi 1 year ago
she got a stress fracture
Inkybeau10 2 years ago
It's so hard to see such a gorgeous creature, so elegant and independent, so helpless and alone. It...........i can't even explain
Jquarterbred1943 2 years ago
just say..racing was not worth this beautiful filly!!
gabryellahm 1 year ago
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Edgeacebeaglebrady, so according to you all PETA members are ill informed idiots and this was just a freak accident? not taking into account that she was only 2yrs old, made to run till she could take anymore, of course the jockey did wrong, what he just sat on her back and watched the world go by? they dont run because they love it they run because they have no choice, they are made to do it so humans can make money out of them.
lisaatkinson11 2 years ago
Actually, she was three; the Triple Crown is only for 3 year olds.
moonhowl977 2 years ago
thats soooo sad :,(
keytry 2 years ago
can not one wait till the horses bones have fully developed?
debbyryanfan3000 2 years ago
i agree
McCormickstablez 2 years ago 10
I see we have some ill informed PETA members here. SHe didn't break down because she ran against the males, like PETA claimed. See Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra and Genuine Risk,etc Those gals ran against males and came out just fine. The jockey didn't do anything wrong either. This was a freak accident, however, I do believe the inbreeding, and drug use does contribute to breakdowns.
edgeacebeaglebrady 2 years ago 65
I entirely agree with you..however, there were tests completed post-humously and she was found to have no steroids in her system. If these are not the "drugs" to which you were referring, i apologize. This in the end could have been a result of breeding for speed instead of stamina and conformation. I believe if the industry gets back to balance the two, we can produce powerful, yet strong and resilient animals.
jDUBzGurl08 1 year ago
@jDUBzGurl08 I do think that there should be a balance of speed and stamina/conformation. Definitely. What kills me about PETA is that they spread so much misinformation about the sport, especially when something unfortunate like this happens, just to get publicity.
edgeacebeaglebrady 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady i agree. i don't believe in pointing fingers at people for accidents, as sad as they may be.R.I.P 8 bells
campcoskuro 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady The horses are bred to have thin ankles because it makes them faster. It also makes them more prone to suffer fatal injuries like these. That is what happened to Eight Bells. Other easy things to do to reform the sport while keeping it competitive would be to mandate synthetic turf race tracks at every professional venue and disallowing horses under the age of 3 from competing. It is long overdue and would not compromise the sport.
ApoliticalApologist 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady she wasn't inbred both of her front ankles broke and she wasn't on steriods or any other drugs she some Thoroughbreds do that because they put some much weight on their front legs
horsesaremylife31899 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady unfortunately when you have organizations with an agenda, like PETA, they will misinform so long as it benefits them
samsam29 1 year ago
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@edgeacebeaglebrady - drug use does contribute to breakdowns. I'll pick that one here.
Icyhotboo 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady I agree too.
burningrosegirl98 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady And, let's not forget Lady's Secret.
kwmred 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady Also another contribute is that her bloodline was filled with horses with weak legs :/
randomrider92 1 year ago
@edgeacebeaglebrady: I agree in part. In Europe they regularly race fillies with the colts & at the same distances & weights.
thackery12 1 year ago
@thackery12 Yes. In Europe they do run the gals against the guys quite a bit, so that part of PETA's argument doesn't hold much water.
edgeacebeaglebrady 11 months ago
@thackery12 horses are different than humans, mares and fillies are just as strong as stallions/geldings and colts.
YamasakiBJJ 9 months ago
how old was eight bells again. This is soooo sad...
rebamac96 2 years ago
she was two i think...
crazyteensJHH 2 years ago
Tampa the trainer decided to run EB in the Derby because the day before he had another entrant(who won) in the oaks.
21Sarabi 2 years ago
I agree Dixie. If you look at their family tree a lot of them will have either Native Dancer, Northern Dancer, or Mr. Prospector. Native Dancer never had good bone strength and past it on through the generations.
21Sarabi 2 years ago
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I HATE HORSE RACING RIP
popstar45661 2 years ago
i hat horse racing too!! it really sucks!!!
xxxcullenxx8 2 years ago
poor horses!!!! just used to the limit for a short time:-(((
Hendrikje2 2 years ago
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Owners were that broke? Had to put the girl in with the boys to try and prove something? Their reward...the death of a great horse. Whatever pain they feel...they deserve!
Tampaslice 2 years ago
Thoroughbreds are inbred to much and my horse about a year and a half ago got a suspensory ligament and it took her 9 months to recover and I had to take it easy. But I think that racing horses at such a young age makes them break down more than horses who aren't ridden until they are three or four.
dixiegirl101 2 years ago 3
This just breaks my heart, I can't stand it! But what we must remember is this isn't just happening to horses in the Derby. There are so many accidents on track we don't know nor hear about. We must remember that this is not a once in a lifetime thing. This tragedy happens almost every day.
At least she died doing what she loves to do!
Rest in Peace Eight Belles, you've opened peoples eyes, and maybe we can all try to make a difference.
thoroughbredrescuer4 2 years ago
They need more heavy in them... breed them with some drafts and wear the line down and you will get a solid racer. I hate that. It's so sad
mplum8 2 years ago
Yeah, but Thoroughbreds already have thousands of pounds of pressure on their cannon bones and they're kept extremely light. I'm not sure draft bone/mass would benefit them. They need new blood, but the lines are so inbred I'm not sure how they could do it.
StableBabe 2 years ago
@StableBabe I would breed in some saddlebred: they don't have the breakdown problems of TBs and though they are a bit slower they are not as nervous and they do make fairly decent racers.
shadowkitty56 2 years ago
She may have been trying to avoid something on the track as the reason for her unusual break in stride but if you watch the video very closely, as I have a million times, she has a break in stride and stumbles. She then falls due probably to a combination of speed/inertia, fatigue and footing. I believe that the actual fractures are a result of her falling forward and sliding with her front legs under her.
temple2heaven 2 years ago
?? She had to be euthanized. Both sesamoids were broken!!
spam1237 2 years ago
I have watched this several times, and the choice of music is probably the reason. It perfectly captures her tragic end. The music conveys what the heart cannot speak: perfection, beauty, excellence, and death.
668mirabai 2 years ago
How many times does this sort of stuff have to happen before we listen to these horses and change our ways?
ForeverInLuvRA 2 years ago
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oh shut up. Its a horse, get over it. I'm sure eight bells made some dog very happy since she most likely was ground up into dog food.
WeDieYoung1083 2 years ago
JERK!!!!!
WHY PUSH A HORSE SO HARD??
moonwhisper101 2 years ago
moonwhisper101: He didn't. He was only SLOWING HER DOWN and COOLING HER OUT because this happened AFTER the race. You should learn about horses and horse racing. It would help you understand about the fall.
HorseFever596 2 years ago 2
its just racing thats what u do so...!
horsecrazygirl10 2 years ago
You can see pretty well how she fell. my arm was throbbin when I watched this. Just the way she landed. It might've been the lead change. idk. but then again, I dont think it was the lead change.
dixiegal123 2 years ago
no, it was the lead change, dressage horses are trained and trained and trained and they are going slower than she is and they are at least 10 years old. read up.
bp11herefo 2 years ago
No it was not a lead change if you look close she tried to jump something,But God it was so ugly because you could see the leg like slide out and lay flat
SydneyW16 2 years ago
The lead change wasn't why her ankles broke. Her ankles were weak, had she not have been a young racehorse this might not have happened. It isn't fair to say that you hate flying lead changes because of what happened to this filly, dressage horses do flying leads changes down the center line one after the other in the ring and they are fine. She broke down because people don't know how to breed good, solid racehorses anymore. I did a study on racehorses now and in the past, they have changed.
wasim16 2 years ago 2
I have examined this 1 million times, if you look close enough the reason why she changed her lead was because there was a big hole in front of her. I could actually see it coming. The Filly could have survived if they wanted to try, but going through that pain all her life would be worse. And the chance of her living for ong would have been minor. It reminds me of my thoroughbred in Australia, He sliced his tendon in trackwork due to a shape on the sand track, he attempted to jump it.
1chelsayy 2 years ago
they killed it becuz noth of her front legs were broken she wud have had no way to support herself even if they did put cast round her legs
MaGgPiE94 2 years ago
they seriesly killed the god damn horse because it couldn't fucking race anymore!!!! i hate ppl like that just becuase a horse become crippled dosen't mean its life should end!
Sunstar120 2 years ago
No, they killed it BECAUSE IT BROKE BOTH ITS FUCKING FRONT LEGS
Hipsterrunoff 2 years ago 3
sorry i got it wrong, god no reason to be a bitch
Sunstar120 2 years ago
No they put her down because she broke her front ankles and she couldn't even stand. So in a way, yeah. LOL.
horsecrazy11 2 years ago
They killed her because she would never stand again.
ridingxruffian 2 years ago
That's true; she shouldn't have been put to death just because she couldn't race - here's the thing: for a horse, one broken leg is sometimes enough to sign their death warrant. It goes beyond being disabled, hon: A horse is made to eat and run - they have to run, and lying down holds consequences (negative ones). As sad as it is - especially if this was in the wild - it's probably the 'kindest' thing to do, put the horse down. :( It's not nice at all, but this is a horrid fact about horses.
NebetSeta 2 years ago
It is terrible, but to give you some insight...I am a student at a community college and my professor asked if any of us had seen on the news what happened at Del Mar race track? Then she told us, she was there. She went on to describe how it was the most horrific sound she had ever heard come out of an animal.
SCYblue 2 years ago
chill out plz
mlfluff 2 years ago
did anyone else notice that eight belles changed leads RIGHT before she fell?
zoetherider 2 years ago
omg ur right. its like rite when she lands from the flying lead change she fell.
sarahgiddyHJ 2 years ago
Yes, I did. :( And then, she just seems to kick out both front feet and fall.
NebetSeta 2 years ago
i nkow i hate flying air lead changes
mlfluff 2 years ago
why would they kill the horse just cause it cant walk/race anymore, that isnt right smh
Heightz1734 2 years ago
It wouldn't be any life for her. She was a strong, fast horse...being in a stall for the rest of her life would have been awful. It was best thing they could have possibly done for her. Its very sad though...
tuckersgirl101 2 years ago
She wouldn't even be able to stand. She snapped both front ankles and keeping her alive would have caused her more pain. If she was able to stand, they would have kept her alive. But she couldn't. When she tried standing, she collapsed.
horsecrazy11 2 years ago
Horses are creatures that need to stand, and they also need to run; now, being in captivity/bred in captivity, that part of their lives has somewhat changed. Still, lying down can be dangerous business for a horse; as well, a broken leg - while 'simple' for humans - is devastating to an equine. Having two broken legs - she, as they stated, literally had 'no leg to stand on.'
NebetSeta 2 years ago
I can't watch this-it breaks my heart. RIP Eight Belles.
gotch09 2 years ago
imagine if eight belles and barbaro were still here and made a baby their baby would be unstoppable
kennymister333 2 years ago
Respect for eight belles, she put fillies back on the map. Rachel Alexandra and Curlin are gonna make an unstoppable horse.
Thrasher51 2 years ago
OMG ARE THEY BREDDING THEM TOGETHER??
buddy767emily 2 years ago
Are they breeding them together?
TurnNBurnBaby3 2 years ago
Yeah, that would be some serious talent coming out of Eight Belles if that happened. I don't know who Curlin would be matched up with since, I think, he's retired now.
drumma4lyfe06 2 years ago
If I see a horse die in a film or if someone in the film is going to put the horse down I cry and feel like killing them
TheSanctuaryHorses 2 years ago 2
Eight Belles was an amzing filly. Even though I was only 10 years old, I knew Eight Belles was a wonderful filly before the race even started. I cryed when she fell and .....died. Eight Belles will always be in my heart, even though I never knew her. It felt like I did know her, though. I can't explain it, but it felt like we were ....sisters. I know it might sound silly or wierd to some people, but it's true. Watching her die was like watching my sister die. I will always love you Eight Belles!
MalteseLover11 2 years ago 4
Who cares who's wrong or right. A beautiful creature died. All you care about is your ego. Have some compassion for the people who loved this horse.
abigailcape 2 years ago 6
Okay,Ruffian4Ever,I do agree. Horses don't have ankles, some even mix up the fetlock and the forelock. Eight Bells broke her sesamoid bones which supports the horse's weight, since when Ruffian broke her sesamoid bones, she had no support on the fetlock. My horse also broke his sesamoid bone, and his vet called the area the fetlock. My horse didn't shatter his sesamoids,so he still had ankle support.
KrisandGM4Life 2 years ago 2
i'm an idiot
karlaypuchi 2 years ago
the horse fell over and broke its legs. honestly how is a horse going to come back from something like that. if my horse fell like that, as much as i love him, i wouldnt want him to suffer.
ridethathorse778 2 years ago 15
@ridethathorse778
what is it about a horses leg that makes it un-healable?
i'm going to be a senior in highschool this year adn my plans are to become a veterinarian, so don't me mad at my lack of education :)
i do know that horse have to be able to stand and what not. but, since i have about five years until vet school,,, can you explain??
musicfreak6730 1 year ago
@musicfreak6730 I believe you can repair the injured leg with pins, (if repairable) however the other leg usually gets laminitis. I don't think inbreeding and drug use has as much to do with the breakdowns as does the fact they are starting the careers of these animals at the age of 2. They are babies that are already prone to injury, they then add the problem of keeping them in a stall all day turning them 'stall stupid'. Its amazing they don't ALL break their legs.
valeriehudgens 1 year ago
@valeriehudgens not true, not ever broken bone is able to heal that way
crazyymac101 1 year ago