Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Treat turns to tragedy needlessly Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 14:38:17 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;DEAR ABBY \SS (WS) \HD Treat turns to tragedy needlessly \BY Abigail Van Buren \CR UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE DEAR ABBY: A tragedy struck in Minneapolis recently that could easily have been averted. A young mother driving down a country road with her 2-year-old daughter spotted some horses in a nearby pasture. She stopped the car, and with her child firmly in tow, climbed over the fence so her daughter could pet the horses. One of the horses shied and kicked the child in the head, killing her instantly! Several lives were affected by this tragedy. A beautiful child will never grow up. A young mother will live with the guilt that her child's death could have been avoided had she not put the child in harm's way. And the owner of the horse will forever regret that one of his equine friends caused such misery. I wish I could say this occurrence was out of the ordinary, but after 20-plus years of showing horses, I can tell you that it is not. I recall once, after a preshow workout, I returned my horse to my trailer, loosened the cinch on my saddle and left to register for the show. Imagine my horror when I returned a few minutes later to find a small boy (no more than 2 years old) perched precariously on my horse's back while his mother beamed with pride! She turned ugly when I politely asked her to keep her child away from my horse. Abby, please remind your readers that they should never approach a horse unless the owner is present. Most horses are gentle, but they are still animals - subject to basic animal instincts. A bee sting, a barking dog or the squeal of a child can frighten an otherwise gentle horse, turning him into an unwitting killer. I realize this is a long letter, but the message is very important. That child's death never should have occurred. With your help, perhaps another child's life will be saved. - MARY BREEN, OSSEO, MINN. DEAR MARY: Your letter was worth the space. It should be noted that the young mother was trespassing on private property, and a cow could have killed her daughter just as easily. DEAR ABBY: I am in the process of ending my 15-year marriage. My husband and I are trying very hard to remain friendly for the sake of our two preteen sons. My question is one I am sure you've been asked by literally hundreds of people, but I have never seen it addressed in your column. How should I let distant friends and relatives know that my divorce will be final in a couple of weeks? I am looking for a tasteful way to pass along this information. If I merely sign my Christmas cards without my husband's name, some may assume that he has died. - ALICE IN DALLAS (NOT MY REAL NAME) DEAR ALICE: Bad news travels fast, so don't look for a tasteful way to tell your friends and relatives something they may already know. But for those who may not be "in the loop," for the record, include with your Christmas card a brief note, saying: "After 15 years of marriage, ( ) and I have agreed to part amicably. Our divorce was final on ( ). The boys and I are very well." (That should do it.) Everything you'll need to know about planning a wedding can be found in Abby's booklet, "How to Have a Lovely Wedding." To order, send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, PO Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM