Mia's horse is one of the lucky ones to have a responsible caring owner. However, until several years ago, I spent every summer since 1985 on the back side of the track when the standardbreds came to race at Sandown helping with a stable that had a highly responsible trainer who truly loved his horses. When his horses did not perform, he made every effort to place them in homes rather than send them to the canner. Once I saw a female driver come back from a race where her horse lost and she was so angry she pulled hard on the reins and just kept hitting her horse with her whip. The animal was rearing in fright and squealing but she just sat in the sulky with the reins tight and kept hitting him. One trainer in the next barn had a drinking problem and would "forget" to feed his horses. He only fed once a day, while most fed 3 times a day and it was awful to hear these poor animals calling out for their food. I used to drop them a flake just to ease their hunger. A lot are head shy because they are punched in the face when they lean their faces over the barn door. I could go on and on about brutality and neglect I witnessed back in the barn area over the years. So I say to Mia, enjoy your horse, yours is one of the really lucky ones.