the use of horse leather in protective workman's gear dates back several hundreds of years. Having hot nearly molten steel burn through your clothes is a very unpleasant experience and I am grateful that Flicka and her friends offered themselves up to protect my tender skin. And yes. I actually am sick.
Being a welder is a noble profession and I was smart to listen to an older voice of reason to pick up a mechanical skill while still in High School. Welding paid for my degree and post graduate studies and to this day when I am all worn out from dealing with the Ferengi I love going to my home machine shop and make something.
No doubt that welding is a perfectly respectable profession, Surak. But your comment came off as a little insensitive, that's all. Horses are themselves the noblest of creatures. Anyway, the new contest thread will be coming up in a few hours, after I get off work.