Phoebe and Sam are Going as Vienna Fingers

Trick or Treat! Dogster.com reminds us that pets, like children,need to be supervised and safe on Halloween. Here are their excellent suggestions:

1. Don’t leave your dog outside. Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where it is safe. If your dog is usually kept outside, bring him in a few times before the big night to get him used to being indoors. Your dog may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. Remember also that it is a natural instinct for dogs to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.
2. Keep your dog restrained. If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to love people a little too much, it is best to put him in a separate room away from the front door to limit his excitability, aggression, and chance of running outside and becoming lost.
3. Reassure your dog. The best thing you can do for your dog when he is feeling unsettled by Halloween activities is to act as you normally would. By over-reassuring your dog or giving him an unusual amount of attention, you inadvertently can communicate to him that because you are acting differently, there must be something to worry about.
4. Have your dog get used to costumes. Your dog may see his family members as strangers once they don their Halloween costumes. Before the kids put them on, allow your dog to scent the costumes. If your costume has a mask, keep the mask off when you are with your dog because dogs can become confused when they can’t see our faces.
5. Check your dog’s ID tag. Be sure identification tags are secure on your dog’s collar-just in case.
6. Keep candy away from your dog. Many candies-especially chocolate-are toxic to dogs. The severity of the toxicity depends greatly on factors such as breed, age, size, and how much candy was ingested. Problems may range from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea, or even death. If you have any concerns at all, consult with a veterinarian immediately. If you want to keep your dog safe, make certain that sweets, including their wrappers, are kept well away from your dog.
7. Protect dogs from candles and pumpkins. Excited or agitated dogs can easily knock over a lit candle or pumpkin. Be sure those items are away from your dog’s reach, or consider a battery-powered candle that does not burn
8. Think twice about dressing your dog in a costume. While some dogs might enjoy being dressed up, many don’t. Experiment first to see if your dog likes being in a costume. If so, fine-he’ll most likely enjoy himself and the extra attention it brings. However, if he shows any resistance, don’t do it. Dogs feel enough stress around Halloween without also having to endure the discomfort and peculiarity of wearing a strange costume.
9. Be prepared. If you take your dog with you while trick-or-treating, be prepared at all times. Do not let your dog approach the door of a house, and stay clear of possible gags or gangs of goblins who will gather at the door. Dogs do not understand that the person jumping out at you will not hurt you; they often think they can only help you by acting aggressively. Neither children nor adults in costumes should approach a dog without the owner’s consent.
10. Have fun but think of your dog’s safety. Finally, if you want your dog to be included in Halloween festivities, think about his safety much as you would the safety of a small child. Your dog does not understand Halloween, so he needs you to provide the guidance and safety that you always do.

Got all that? Heed their warnings and have a safe and fun Halloween adventure!

Halloween Debut for Lentenor

So the BIG news among Fans of Barbaro is the racing debut of Lentenor, Barbaro's youngest brother. Lenny, as he is affectionately know, is scheduled to make his first start on Saturday--Halloween and World Series Game 3, at Keeneland in the fifth race.

The race is 7 furlongs and is on the artificial surface. There are currently a dozen horses in the field--though some may scratch--and Lenny has drawn post position #2. Only one horse in the race has run before so Lenny is in like company. It is for all intents and purposes, a field of first time starters.

I wouldn't even try to handicap the race. There are too many unknowns, not the least of which is the artificial surface. Lenny has trained on a Tapeta track at Fair Hill so he has some experience but nothing prepares you for the real event like experience. In this field, anything can happen.

Rumor has it that Lenny has been ready to run for a while but his connections had a hard time finding a race to suit him. I have a feeling the Jacksons would have liked him to run a little closer to home--it is always easier NOT to ship a horse--but Delaware Park closed last weekend and there was nothing on the books at Laurel.

The thinking here may be that since he is on his way to Florida, he may as well stop in Kentucky for a few weeks. Depending on how he does, Lenny may stay in Kentucky--moving to Churchill Downs where a race may open up, or he just may go to Florida to Matz's operation at Palm Meadows.

One thing is for sure--the race is televised on TVG, the cable racing channel available via Direct TV, and I am sure a video will be up on You Tube before the day is over. It's a long anticipated event and here's hoping that Lenny has a safe and productive trip! It's hard to believe there are two Barbaro brothers of racing age. . .

Aint You Never Heard Of--2009 Version

My oldest son was the president of the Penn Glee Club for 2 years and currently serves on the Graduate Board, so excuse me for indulging one of my favorite singing groups. How could I resist since World Series Fever is sweeping the town!

According to my sources, this tribute was aired on ESPN radio the other day.

Enjoy!

The Daily Coyote

If your heart melted at the above photo of ten day old coyote, Charlie, who arrived on photographer Shreve Stockton's doorstep very unexpectedly over a year ago, then you are sure to want to read their story in her new book, The Daily Coyote A Story of Love, Survival and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming, out this week. Charlie was orphaned after his parents were shot for killing sheep and from the looks of things, he ended up with a great new family.

While you are waiting for your book to arrive, you can check out her blog by the same name and see her fabulous photos of what she calls her Farmily, including, Eli, a tomcat, Chloe a hound dog and a horse and hog. Charlie, by the way, gets along with everyone. An interesting case to be made for the nurture over nature folks.

Stockton is quite the business woman. You can sign up for a daily photo of Charlie delivered to your inbox as well as the Weekly Coyote. Stockton takes photographs of Charlie every day and notes tht he has the "it" factor when it comes to preening for the camera.

Who says I don't give you great ideas for holiday shopping? This one might be perfect for a lot of people on your list.

Caisson Platoon

ABC News did a wonderful story earlier this week about the Caisson Platoon--the troop of horses that is part of every military burial at Arlington National Cemetery. They have been doing this for 60 years.

It turns out that these dignified, slow moving horses are also giving wounded veterans a new lease on life. Injured soldiers, transported from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, participate in riding clinics aboard these horses once a week. The therapy has improved their minds as well as their bodies.

"The horses have done magic for them," Mary Jo Beckman, co founder of Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs, told ABC News' Bob Woodruff. "They tell me they look forward to Thursday morning. . . this is what makes life bearable for them."

The soldiers do not use saddles when they ride. They sit on saddle pads so that they can better feel the movement of the horse's muscles. "When a horse moves at the walk, their hip movement is the same as yours and mine," explained Larry Pence, Beckman's co-founder. "We want them to get in synch with the horse."

Therapeutic riding has long been known to benefit mentally and physically challenged children. How fitting that these dignified beasts are doing the same for our military heroes.

Go to abc.news. com to see a video of the magic being worked.

New Homes For Paragallo's Horses

In case you were wondering about the status of the 177 horses that were rescued from the training operation of Ernie Paragallo, Joe Drape had an excellent piece in the New York Times last Sunday that talked about their whereabouts.

For starters, 96 of the 177 horses have been re-homed, thanks to the hard work of rescue groups across the country and the Columbia-Greene Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This agency has spent over $80,000 feeding, caring and finding homes for these thoroughbreds. Unfortunately, six were euthanized because they were too sick.

Some have found new homes as hunters and jumpers; some have found their way to Michael Bowen's sanctuary, Old Friends, and some are being retrained for dressage. Meanwhile, Paragallo was indicted on 35 counts of animal cruelty by a Greene County grand jury. If he is found guilty, he will be fined $35,000 and faces up to two years in prison. He has denied that he starved and neglected the horses and is free on bail. No trial date has been set.

One of the best stories of adoption comes from a couple in New York who have never owned race horses in their lives. They met at the now defunct Claremont Riding Academy in Manhattan, and already own two rescued mares that they plan on breeding. When they saw the photos of Paragallo's horses, however, they knew they would rescue a few more.
The horses are currently being rehabilitated by Paula Turner, who broke Seattle Slew. The long term goal is ideally to return them to the racetrack.

In conjunction with their act of compassion, the couple formed the 5R Racehorse Trust, a non-profit with the mission of "rescue, rehabilitate, race, retrain and retire" horses. If they find horses in need of rescue, who are deemed fit to race, the Trust will place them with a trainer who has no violations for medications and who agrees to race them drug free. If they can be retrained for dressage or pleasure riding, then they will help find them a new home.

Quite a wonderful goal and quite an ambitious plan. And quite a fitting end to the neglect and misery that these horses faced under Paragallo's watch. Just proves that something good very often can come from something very bad.

Seen at the Philadelphia Zoo: Michael Vick sporting a Yankees cap in a town where the Phillies are headed to their second consecutive World Series.

Enough said.