RIP Kauto Star

lula said:
id love to know why a 24yr old eventer was given Kauto Star in the first place although i have no doubt she did the best she could under very challenging media circumstances.
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Yogi B advised CS that the racing community would only understand eventing and that it would be in his best interests to go to an eventer and he suggested LC.
 
You cannot possibly make a judgement on what you would do based on 1 piece of information given in the press. Tragedy/not a tragedy... Semantics.

And let's not go down the whole debate of his second career. That has become utterly boring.

He was a superb brilliant racehorse. I would much rather be reading people's experiences of him at his best and remember him that way than the speculation over who saw him being destroyed and how much pain he was in.
 
Oh my goodness, only just seen this! I'm so shocked! Poor, poor boy, and after making it out of racing too.

R.I.P. beautiful boy Kauto, run pain-free in Heaven boy. xxx
 
Luci07 said:
You cannot possibly make a judgement on what you would do based on 1 piece of information given in the press. Tragedy/not a tragedy... Semantics.

And let's not go down the whole debate of his second career. That has become utterly boring.

He was a superb brilliant racehorse. I would much rather be reading people's experiences of him at his best and remember him that way than the speculation over who saw him being destroyed and how much pain he was in.
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This. All this sniping and speculating is most unedifying. My thoughts are with all of his connections and I will be raising a glass in thanks to him tonight for all the pleasure he gave to so many. Sleep well beautiful boy.

P
 
Tragedy or not, I think that is a debate for another time. The racing world is mourning the loss of the greatest chaser, certainly to those of us who are too young to remember Arkle.
I wonder if there is a racecourse in Heaven, and if there is whether the pair of them will take each other on ;)
 
I am sorry to see one of the greatest racehorses we have ever seen no longer be with us. He had a good time racing, loved and adored by many and that was before you got to the greats depths of love and respect his stable staff had for him.

Kauto was lucky to get a retirement where he got turned out, ridden, loved and well looked after. The same can not be said for many.

R.I.P. big man, may your star shine brightest in the sky x
 
Owner has just been on the radio, he was told thursday and KS seemed ok until the Saturday (though poss cross tied as a precaution as he got to the lami stage?) went up and down a bit on the sunday then, and that is when the nerve issues became apparent.
 
ester said:
Owner has just been on the radio, he was told thursday and KS seemed ok until the Saturday (though poss cross tied as a precaution as he got to the lami stage?) went up and down a bit on the sunday then, and that is when the nerve issues became apparent.
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I thought it was a good interview .
 
Yes I thought so too, I have to say from the original report what concerned me was what they knew/how long had he been cross tied for to end up with toxic lami but it does sound like he was wrong but ok and then went downhill quite rapidly with the possible neck fracture.
 
RIP KS, you were loved by many, such a sad time.
I think it's distasteful of people to be comparing two awful events. How you can even compare the two is beyond me. Both are horrific for those involved. Both, in my opinion, are tragedies. A phenomenal horse has died. Holiday makers have died. Which ever way you look at it, people/animals have died. This isn't a case of 'who came off worst'; this is simply a thread for those wishing to express their condolences - why turn it into something it isn't?
 
RIP....What a Legend.

I don't normally get too emotional about things like this, but I have to admit, I shed a tear earlier. What a sad end to a fabulous career. Condolences to all involved with him.

I have to say however, (and this is my personal opinion) I was always disappointed he went to Laura, rather than spend his days in happy retirement at PN yard, or go to a hunting home. But, it was the choice of his owner, and Im sure he had the best of care.

If the stories are true regarding PN finding out very last minute then shame on Laura and Clive.
 
Rumours just hit Facebook that the "paddock injury" story is untrue. Rather that his injury involved an incompetent groom. Just reading more now...but it's there for all to see, for anyone who wants a look.

It didn't sound right to me and having had first hand experience myself of event yards where "grooms" are left with horses with inadequate training for it, I hate to say it but this sounds more plausible.

Has anyone heard any statement from Collett's stable, other than the original disclosure? Seems oddly quiet on that front to me? Very impersonal and...limited.
 
SkewbyTwo said:
Rumours just hit Facebook that the "paddock injury" story is untrue. Rather that his injury involved an incompetent groom. Just reading more now...but it's there for all to see, for anyone who wants a look.

It didn't sound right to me and having had first hand experience myself of event yards where "grooms" are left with horses with inadequate training for it, I hate to say it but this sounds more plausible.

Has anyone heard any statement from Collett's stable, other than the original disclosure? Seems oddly quiet on that front to me? Very impersonal and...limited.
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Gosh, it's odd that there are rumours on Facebook, what with there being nothing controversial about his second career with Laura. But then again, if it's on Facebook it must be more plausible than the story released in the press...
 
I just think it's awfully sad that Paul Nicholls and Clifford weren't told about the accident, and weren't given the chance to say goodbye. In fact i think it's just horrible.

No matter what the fall out between Clive Baker and PN, he should have been the bigger man and let him say goodbye.

As for Kauto being winched up for six days, I'm sure the vets did everything they could to keep him comfortable. My own opinion is that I would have let him go earlier, the vets report looks very bad.
 
lula said:
id love to know why a 24yr old eventer was given Kauto Star in the first place although i have no doubt she did the best she could under very challenging media circumstances.
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lula, keep up here!........... the trainer wanted to keep him at his yard and the owner wanted the horse to have a second career as a dressage horse, the horse was removed from PN's yard by the owner, who sent it to Laura. She rode him under the spotlights at Olympia and it was a PR disaster, as is this.
I suppose she had no choice, but must have had many sleepless nights since then.
 
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Mariposa said:
I just think it's awfully sad that Paul Nicholls and Clifford weren't told about the accident, and weren't given the chance to say goodbye. In fact i think it's just horrible.

No matter what the fall out between Clive Baker and PN, he should have been the bigger man and let him say goodbye.

As for Kauto being winched up for six days, I'm sure the vets did everything they could to keep him comfortable. My own opinion is that I would have let him go earlier, the vets report looks very bad.
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I'm sorry but I don't think any horse (or animal) should be kept going so someone can say goodbye!

It does sound like he wasn't on slings for six days, but cross tied and deteriorated rapidly re. the paralysis.
 
Irish gal said:
Bonkers I'm not up to speed on this but would love to know. Why was it as disaster, what happened? Did PN just want to retire him, it might have been better.
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Yes, PN wanted to retire him but felt he would be better kept in his yard to be ridden by Clifford as his hack, but Clive Smth was the owner and he sent a lorry to collect the horse from the yard. The horse was duly trained up to do a basic display but owner arranged for him to go to HOYS, under the spotlights and the crowd, the horse seemed reluctant to do his bit, there was a lot of flapping of legs etc by Laura.
After this, I was present at the races when Clice Smith went up to accept a trophy, the applause was muted, nearer to a slow hanclap.....
 
ester said:
I'm sorry but I don't think any horse (or animal) should be kept going so someone can say goodbye!

It does sound like he wasn't on slings for six days, but cross tied and deteriorated rapidly re. the paralysis.
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I haven't commented on the accident so far, and the injuries seem severe even for a paddock accident, but to be fair, if our own horses suffered such injuries, the normal course of events would be to shoot it straight away, not to keep it going, there have been both sucessful and unsucessful veterinary interventions in similar cases, but usually not for geldings in retirement.
I am sure PN would not have wanted to keep the horse in suffering to say goodbye, remember he was only told about this a few minutes before the press were clamouring for a statement. And it was Laura, not Clive Smith who contacted him, all bad PR, the opportunity to pour oil on troubled waters was lost.
 
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The rumour is that he decked someone and then ran into a wall at speed. They tried to treat at home (under the vet) as they were keen to cover up, but finally took him to the vet hosp at 11pm sat night. The accident was on weds. He had been standing in with multiple broken bones until then.
If these allegations (from a usually reliable source) are true, then it is truly disgusting of them.
 
Well I, for one, do think this is a tragedy. That a horse as brave, beautiful, talented and charismatic should have been subjected to this 'retirement' and then die in such awful suspicious circumstances, is a tragedy in my eyes. Clive Smith and Laura Collett should hang their heads in shame.
 
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