Posted by Avram Freedberg
Arielle’s Song finally had her first breeze. She was scheduled to breeze in Saratoga but she rebelled and Linda told the rider to take her back to the barn. Linda is really smart about horses because this incident led her to examine Arielle’s Song more carefully. That’s when she found some issues with a tendon. That led to ultrasound, icing, rest, turnout and, finally, back under tack and to the track.
Her breeze was purposefully slow. She ran 3 furlongs in 38.4. First furlong in 13, last quarter in 35.4. Most important, she came out of the breeze well. It’ll probably take 60 – 90 days to have her ready for a race. We’ll all be looking forward to that in April or May.
Ahvee’s Destiny will ship to Palm Meadows from Ocala to get back into racing shape. She’ll be aiming for something in April, either at Gulfstream in Florida or that Keeneland stakes race in April in Kentucky. We’ll see how it goes. I love that horsie!
The two 2-year olds will ship up to New York in April or early May. So, it should be an interesting Spring and Summer. I hope so. Between my uncle’s death, health issues for my dad, mom’s depression, the economy, etc., etc., I’m sure you can understand the desire for a pleasant diversion.
Luckily, I have many other pleasant diversions… my Rhoda, MY KIDS, family and partners -- Jonathan, Arielle, Tamar, my siblings, in-law relations and their families, our parrots, Gabby and Goldy, our extremely cute and funny new Havanese puppy, Jose and so many good friends like you. Luckily? Yes, I’m a pretty lucky guy!
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Animals
Posted by Avram Freedberg
I’m distraught.
A 200 lb., 14-year old Chimpanzee who is a widow’s pet (He eats with her at the table, toasts her with a wine glass, gets on the computer to look at pictures, uses a water-pik before going to sleep at night) badly mauls the woman’s friend to within an inch of her life. If she survives, her life will be forever changed, since the worst injuries were to her face and hands. The pet is killed by police.
I feel sorry not just for the injured victim but for the animal and, even more, for the lonely widow who lost both her best friends.
Why does it make me want to write? I guess because I love animals and this kind of incident reminds you that there are dangers with animals. I know that I forget this occasionally. After being sensitized to the beauty of a loving dog by our dear Cricket, I couldn’t wait to see the barking doggies who were running towards me when we walked along the shore in Newport, RI, behind the big shorefront mansions. Only when they got close enough for me to see their bared teeth and foaming mouths did I realize the danger they posed. Lucky for me, there was an electric fence.
I like my fantasy where animals love you in a world where people often don’t. So, I must realize that parrot beaks can be dangerous, dog teeth can do damage and horses hooves, teeth and body mass are sometimes accidents waiting to happen.
Nonetheless, I want to love these animals and be loved by them. There’s nothing like coming home to a dog than comes to greet you excitedly at the door. Nothing like a talking bird saying hello or calling your name. Nothing like stroking the velvet nose of a beautiful thoroughbred race horse or hugging its head and having it snuggle you.
So, I’ll try not to put myself or others in danger while enjoying the benefits of loving animals and being loved in return. The reward is more than worth the risk.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
I’m distraught.
A 200 lb., 14-year old Chimpanzee who is a widow’s pet (He eats with her at the table, toasts her with a wine glass, gets on the computer to look at pictures, uses a water-pik before going to sleep at night) badly mauls the woman’s friend to within an inch of her life. If she survives, her life will be forever changed, since the worst injuries were to her face and hands. The pet is killed by police.
I feel sorry not just for the injured victim but for the animal and, even more, for the lonely widow who lost both her best friends.
Why does it make me want to write? I guess because I love animals and this kind of incident reminds you that there are dangers with animals. I know that I forget this occasionally. After being sensitized to the beauty of a loving dog by our dear Cricket, I couldn’t wait to see the barking doggies who were running towards me when we walked along the shore in Newport, RI, behind the big shorefront mansions. Only when they got close enough for me to see their bared teeth and foaming mouths did I realize the danger they posed. Lucky for me, there was an electric fence.
I like my fantasy where animals love you in a world where people often don’t. So, I must realize that parrot beaks can be dangerous, dog teeth can do damage and horses hooves, teeth and body mass are sometimes accidents waiting to happen.
Nonetheless, I want to love these animals and be loved by them. There’s nothing like coming home to a dog than comes to greet you excitedly at the door. Nothing like a talking bird saying hello or calling your name. Nothing like stroking the velvet nose of a beautiful thoroughbred race horse or hugging its head and having it snuggle you.
So, I’ll try not to put myself or others in danger while enjoying the benefits of loving animals and being loved in return. The reward is more than worth the risk.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
It's Official!
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Conseated Lady had some heat in her leg after her last workout. Yesterday, she had a nuclear scan which revealed a hairline fracture of her tibia. This injury is different than last year’s but leaves me wondering if she is going to turn out to be one of those horses who never makes it to the racetrack. Unfortunately, there are many of those.
Treatment is 30 days stall-bound, 30 days hand walking and 30 days turnout. Then bringing her back into training slowly. Even if all goes well, she won’t make the races until July at the earliest. My guess is Saratoga in August. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
Arielle’s Song arrived at the Palm Meadows training facility in Florida yesterday. Even if nothing seems to change in her tendons, we’ll have to ultrasound the tendon before actually racing in about 60 days. Let’s hope for the best. She’s a big girl who showed a lot of desire and ability before being hit with pneumonia last winter and the tendon problem in August.
Ahvee’s Destiny will point to an overnight stakes at Gulfstream, if one comes available in April, or a Stakes race at Keeneland in Kentucky in April.
Holy Blitzer and Katy’s Office Girl have not showed anything special in their training thus far. They’ll be getting closer to racing when the summer solstice is upon us.
Theoretically, we could have 5 horses running by or at Saratoga. Could it happen? Yeah… but the odds don’t seem so great. At least I can fantasize!
Have a lovely weekend!
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Conseated Lady had some heat in her leg after her last workout. Yesterday, she had a nuclear scan which revealed a hairline fracture of her tibia. This injury is different than last year’s but leaves me wondering if she is going to turn out to be one of those horses who never makes it to the racetrack. Unfortunately, there are many of those.
Treatment is 30 days stall-bound, 30 days hand walking and 30 days turnout. Then bringing her back into training slowly. Even if all goes well, she won’t make the races until July at the earliest. My guess is Saratoga in August. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
Arielle’s Song arrived at the Palm Meadows training facility in Florida yesterday. Even if nothing seems to change in her tendons, we’ll have to ultrasound the tendon before actually racing in about 60 days. Let’s hope for the best. She’s a big girl who showed a lot of desire and ability before being hit with pneumonia last winter and the tendon problem in August.
Ahvee’s Destiny will point to an overnight stakes at Gulfstream, if one comes available in April, or a Stakes race at Keeneland in Kentucky in April.
Holy Blitzer and Katy’s Office Girl have not showed anything special in their training thus far. They’ll be getting closer to racing when the summer solstice is upon us.
Theoretically, we could have 5 horses running by or at Saratoga. Could it happen? Yeah… but the odds don’t seem so great. At least I can fantasize!
Have a lovely weekend!
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
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