Yet they still cling to the belief that they can somehow squeeze some mileage out of a dead horse.

FORBES: Are You Playing to Win?

You may wonder what this has to do with consumer technology, and moreover, you're probably wondering why a dead horse is being beaten.

ENGADGET: The extremes of technology customer service: how common sense and empathy create unmatched loyalty

Representatives of Stranmillis University College have been advised to find an alternative to a merger with Queen's University "rather than flog a dead horse".

BBC: MLAs criticise Stranmillis merger plans

Officers found a dead horse and rabbit.

BBC: Crunchy's Rescue conditions 'among worst RSPCA has seen'

Prof Mike Redmayne, a criminal law expert at the London School of Economics (LSE), told BBC News that "trying a dead person would make as much sense as trying a horse".

BBC: News

"We thought the horse was beaten when we saw a re-run and we would have settled for a dead-heat, " said Sheehy, who was celebrating his first Grade One win.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport | Horse Racing | Moscow loses out at Punchestown