Preakness - Barbaro - OMG!!!

[MI mom of 3]

That was just horrible. I seem to remember a horse some time ago that broke its leg and the jockey jumped off and tried to cradle the leg. Am I imagining it or does anyone else know what I am talking about?

Keeping Barbaro in my prayers today.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is not looking good. The news update I just read states that he has 3 seperate breaks. The head surgeon commented that he has never had one horse with so many injuries at once, and that usually he would have been put down right on the track. They are attempting to fuse the bones together in a way that will let Barbaro bear some weight on it. Keep your fingers crossed and those prayers coming!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I just drove by there on the way home from Longwood Gardens, which is in the area of New Bolton. The Sheriff's department is at the top of the lane and all I could see were lots of news trucks so we should be able to keep updated through local news. Continuing my thoughts and prayers...

 

[BrerLizzie]

Poor Barbaro. I think he could have taken the Triple Crown. I hope they can save him and stud him or retire him to the Hall of Champions at Kentucky Horse Park or something.

 

[cheerbop]

As soon as anyone hears something ..will you please post it...So SAD!

 

[lclark0621]

Barbaro in 5th Hour of Leg Surgery

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521...Pv0Ycqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

 

[MDDisneyFan]

Thanks so much for posting the update on Barbaro's surgery. I really hope he makes it!

The question I have is: was this the result of him busting out of the gate (possibly hitting his leg?). My heart dropped when he came out early.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Barbaro in 5th Hour of Leg Surgery

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521...Pv0Ycqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

Well, the fact that it has lasted that long is somewhat positive. If they got in there and there was no hope it would have been over a long time ago.

 

[crazymomof4]

Just watched an update on ESPN from the medical center.

After surgery they will move Barbaro via a monorail-like system to a pool. He will actually come out of anesthesia in the pool and his intial recovery period will be in the pool. Then he will again be moved and they will see how much weight he can bear on the leg. They then spoke of other complications that may arise post-op. He has a long road to hoe but it sounds like he is in the best place for it. I'm sure they have the most state of the art technology and equipment to deal with any comps that may arise. Let's hope Barbaro's "heart of a champion" keeps fighting and he makes it through this. Darn, I'm tearing up again over this horse! I must have a soft spot for animals bc. I've never reacted this way to a human athelete's injury!!!

 

[bballmom56]

Oh, crazymomof4, you just got to me. You used the phrase "heart of a champion". That phrase was the title and the last line of a 4H presentation that my DD gave several years ago (and she must have presented it to different groups at the county, state and national level at least 10-15 times) - "Ruffian had the heart of a champion". There was never a dry eye in the house. Unfortunately, this is all too similar. And yes, now is the time that becomes extremely critical. This is what did Ruffian in - she kept fighting because that's all she knew. She couldn't keep her legs still. Hopefully, technology has improved in the 33 years since.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Thanks so much for posting the update on Barbaro's surgery. I really hope he makes it!

The question I have is: was this the result of him busting out of the gate (possibly hitting his leg?). My heart dropped when he came out early.

No, it didn't have anything to do with him breaking early. When they break through a gate, the brunt of the force is on the front legs/chest. Barbaro's injury was to his back leg. I watched the video of him being re-loaded into the gate and he appeared to be sound.
In a full gallop, the legs of a horse fall rear-rear-front-front with the initial force of the stride striking on the back leg. He was running so hard that when his rear foot hit the ground, the bone shattered. It's a horrible sports injury, but it is just that... a sports injury.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks so much for posting the update on Barbaro's surgery. I really hope he makes it!

The question I have is: was this the result of him busting out of the gate (possibly hitting his leg?). My heart dropped when he came out early.

From what I understand the gates are held closed by magnets. For him to bust thru he just had to butt his head against it or hit it with his front hooves. The jockey commented that when they started to run he heard a loud crack and knew right away something was wrong.

ABC new reported that Barbaro was behaving well and did not give his handlers a hard time yesterday. Hopefully this means that he realizes he is hurt and needs help. If he had fought them he would have probably made his injury worse, and they would have had no choice but to euthanize him. I really hope that doesn't happen.

 

[maxiesmom]

No, it didn't have anything to do with him breaking early. When they break through a gate, the brunt of the force is on the front legs/chest. Barbaro's injury was to his back leg. I watched the video of him being re-loaded into the gate and he appeared to be sound.
In a full gallop, the legs of a horse fall rear-rear-front-front with the initial force of the stride striking on the back leg. He was running so hard that when his rear foot hit the ground, the bone shattered. It's a horrible sports injury, but it is just that... a sports injury.

So it happened because he was so eager to race? That makes me want to cry, and a little sick.

 

[maxiesmom]

Can someone explain to this city girl why a horse cannot live on 3 legs? What makes it impossible for them when other, smaller animals can survive with only 3 or 2 legs?

 

[crazymomof4]

"Ruffian had the heart of a champion".

I'm sure I'd be sobbing if I heard your DD's presentation!!

I just researched Ruffian. What a beautiful horse! It was during a match race that she suffered her injury. She had been in the lead. She and (ironically) both of her parents were euthanized for the same reason-- they injured or re-injured their legs by thrashing about during the post-op period. This line got to me: "Ruffian is buried near the finish line in the infield at Belmont Park. It is often said, "she died on the lead."
As you said, I'm sure technology has improved a great deal since the 70's. For one thing, the recovery pool will hopefully prevent Barbaro from re-injuring his leg as he emerges from anesthesia.

Just now, from SI.com:
"Barbara Dallap, a clinician at the center, was present when Barbaro arrived Saturday night. 'When we unloaded him, he was placed in intensive care and we stabilized him overnight," Dallap said. "He was very brave and well behaved under the situation and was comfortable overnight.' "

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

So it happened because he was so eager to race? That makes me want to cry, and a little sick.

Well, yes... partly because he was so strong, maybe too strong for bone to support. It's a fine balance between strength and biological capacity.

 

[crazymomof4]

Can someone explain to this city girl why a horse cannot live on 3 legs? What makes it impossible for them when other, smaller animals can survive with only 3 or 2 legs?

Other who know horses better can give more detailed replies, I'm sure, but this is what I know: As opposed to say a cat or dog, the weight of a horse is actually inproportionate to the size of the bones in their legs. They weigh upwards of 1000 lbs. and they have long, thin, "ballerina" legs (especially Thoroughbreds) so there is just too much weight for a three-legged existance-- too much weight and imbalance to be supported by just 3 thin legs.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Can someone explain to this city girl why a horse cannot live on 3 legs? What makes it impossible for them when other, smaller animals can survive with only 3 or 2 legs?

It's all about size and temperament. I don't practice on horses, but using dogs as an example, the smaller the dog, the better they do on three legs. A Chihuahua or Maltese with an amputation usually does fine. There is less body weight and less stress on the remaining three legs. A Great Dane or St. Bernard on the other hand, rarely does well on three legs. The additional weight on the other three legs predisposes them to arthritis, cruciate ligament injuries, etc.

Horses are basically very simple animals. Speed is their defense. When they are frightened, they run. In no time at all, they would break down the other legs. The saying in the horse world is 'no hoof, no horse' meaning that can't survive without their mobility and soundness.

 

[Dee & Greg]

I've been looking for updates on surgery all day... this is heartbreaking. I own two horses (not race horses), and I can tell you that they can step off the trailer wrong and injure themselves for life. For such a large animal, they are actually pretty fragile.
They also can't lay down for long periods of time because of the way their ribcage is... too much pressure to breathe. And the temperment of a race horse usually won't allow for him to be calm and heal. They are "hot" and high strung.
If he survives this and recovers enough to be put out to pasture it will be a miracle.

Here's hoping...

 

[ophie]

From an AP story @ ESPN.com as of 6:19pm.

Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby, remained in surgery at 6 p.m.
ET Sunday to determine the extent of "life threatening injuries" after the colt broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

During a briefing, Dr. Corinne Sweeney told the assembled media at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals that the surgery was still underway but was nearing completion.

Sweeney could not say whether the surgery by Dr. Dean Richardson, which began at about 1 p.m., was taking longer than initially anticipated. She added that Richardson had said the colt was undergoing major surgery so it would be lengthy.

The rest of the story is patchwork from previous AP stories.