Twist what? You made a horse joke, something that a few others have done and yet you seem to be suggesting that those that did were being disrespectful. Am I wrong?
Thats my point though. Most people have no emotion connection with the horse, it is more to do with say an intellectual or cultural reaction to death as an abstract concept that we as humans have to face. (i'm not even sure what I said makes sense, well it does to me but not sure it will to...
I have no interest in any sort of animal but I respect all living things. I think the point is when anything dies it is kind of a reminder of your mortality and means that people will make light of that to deal with it. Not saying that the people cracking gags are doing it so as they won't burst...
I don't think people thought it deserved to die but animals do die. So people have made a few jokes, its not like they were cracking gags about it breaking a leg and being put down. Just a few horsey jokes.