Olympics..... - Page 3

The Olympics are for human athletes.  Equestrian sports are considered a test of human athletics (using the horse who is also an athlete, the rider is also considered an athlete) - not sure dog handlers are considered athletes.  I don't consider myself one, but the dog, yes definately an athlete.  But the Olympics is not a test for animal athletes.

Horses can GET rabies just as any other animal or human can GET it, if bitten by a rabid animal.  But horses are not CARRIERS of rabies - just as rodents, birds, reptiles and marsupials are not.  That said, they do have travel restrictions and requirements - they must go through many health checks and vaccine protocol to be able to travel to the worldwide events that they do (not just to the Olympics, horses and riders at this level travel worldwide to competitions)

 

molly

Hey!! Walking down that center line in the blind search is athletic!! Especially for those of us who are vertically (and horizontally) challenged!!! Holding that tracking line up behind a dog that is powering down each leg is athletic. That heeling pattern is athletic--changingpace and everything. :-)

Just was reading on Yahoo sports for the Olympics about the U.S. Take the Gold in Team Show Jumping and the end quote was this "The equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong due to quarantine restrictions in mainland China."

No Olympic thread can be complete, without mentioning "The Fastest Man in the World". Usain Bolt is a Freak. He sets a new world record, and doesn't even blow through the finish line. He celebrates and pounds his chest, before he even crosses the finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMurUgCitDA

 

<<Horses can GET rabies just as any other animal or human can GET it, if bitten by a rabid animal.  But horses are not CARRIERS of rabies >>

Not to beat this to death, but yes, horses CAN carry rabies.  It's rare, but it's possible.  Check with the CDC if you don't believe me.

<<"The equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong due to quarantine restrictions in mainland China." >>

This is a little misleading, as the reality is that the veterinarians for the Olympic horses would not approve Beijing as a safe place for these horses.  Had they gone to Beijing, their quarantine requirements trying to get OUT of China would've been almost impossible.  IOW, if they'd gone to Beijing, they wouldn't have been able to go back home.