Preakness - Barbaro - OMG!!!

[crazymomof4]

Nice article in the Baltimore Sun today:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...993724.story?page=1&coll=bal-sports-headlines
Some excerpts:

"When the demands that come with owning Barbaro become too much, Gretchen Jackson simply goes to see her horse.

"I go there and just sit down in the bedding in his stall and talk to him," she said last week. "He's a very gentle stallion. He allows me to be able to do that, and I find it very relaxing. I look at those legs and think about what they were able to do, to think how they carried him to victory in the Kentucky Derby."

and

"He bit me accidentally one day. I know it was an accident. He was as surprised by it as I was. He tried to put his head on my chest to say he's sorry."


Also, I found this site that gives daily updates on "Our Barbaro"
The author is a trainer at Fair Hill and is in close contact with M. Matz and
P. Brette.
http://www.timwoolleyracing.com/news/2006/11/barbaro_updates_129.php

 

[crazymomof4]

UPDATE:
Barbaro’s health continues to improve and he will be fitted with a special shoe on his left hind hoof, which was severely affected by a case of laminitis.

Dr. Kathleen Anderson, who attended to Barbaro when he was stabled at the Fair Hill (Md.) Training Center, said on Tuesday that Dr. Scott Morrison, a specialist in podiatry at Rood & Riddle in Louisville, Ky., is expected to examine Barbaro within two weeks at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.

“Since his right foot is doing so well, this will help him to get out and move around even more,” Anderson said.

Anderson visits Barbaro regularly and often consults on his care with Dr. Dean Richardson, who surgically repaired Barbaro’s right hing leg, which was shattered early in the Preakness on May 20.

“There was some thought to send him back to Fair Hill, but everyone thinks he would be better served to go when he’s ready for a permanent home,” said Anderson.

Anderson believes that if his condition continues to improve over the next several months, Barbaro could be ready for the 2008 breeding season if his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, see fit.

Barbaro developed life-threatening laminitis in his left hind foot last July. Richardson had to remove 80 percent of the hoof wall.

Anderson and Richardson both said laminitis could still be a problem in the left foot.
Anderson said she is starting to see the old Barbaro come through.

“His disposition has actually improved so much,” said Anderson. “He has a lot more confidence abd can walk around so much better. He is a happy horse. He was very unhappy, yet courageous, there for a while.”

 

[maxiesmom]

Grow hoof grow!!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I'm so thrilled he's doing well. I just can't believe that they are even considering the possibility that he could breed again!! That much weight on those two hind legs really concern me, even years down the road. Continued pixie dust!!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I'm sure they will find ways to make it easy as possible for him. I doubt he's going to have a really long career as a breeding stallion. But if he's having a happy life pain free....good for him and good for his owners that went the extra mile to save him.

 

[Laura]

I'm so glad he's doing well!

 

[Deb in IA]

 

[Deb in IA]

The latest on Barbaro (it almost made me tear up!!)

Defying All Odds, Barbaro Is on the Mend
Horse to Be Released Soon From Intensive Care

Dec. 21, 2006 — With each hesitant step, Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who fractured his leg in the Preakness, is defying the odds.

In video released today, the bandages on his broken right hind leg were gone and he even appeared to be smiling for the camera.

The now-famous horse has a noticeable "hitch in his giddyap," but appears well on his way to recovery — a recovery that many, including his own dedicated team of doctors, knew was a long shot.

"He was a great patient, not just a good patient," said surgeon Dean Richardson of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. "I'd say [he] was a great patient."

Though Barbaro's health is still at risk and he's still showing signs of his near-fatal injury, doctors say the famous racehorse may soon be leaving intensive care.

"There's a possibility we'd try to get him out of the hospital where he'd be able to be walked on softer footing, because at this point his medical care is relatively modest," Richardson said.


It's been a harrowing seven months. He had shown true greatness at the Kentucky Derby, only to have that promise shattered in the Preakness.


Barbaro's delicate surgery involved 27 screws and a stainless-steel plate followed by hydrotherapy to reduce pressure on his legs.

His recovery was right on track until the extra weight on his healthy left leg caused a severe hoof disease called laminitis.


Laminitis isn't just painful, it's often a death sentence for horses. It killed the legendary Secretariat.


At the time, even Richardson got choked up delivering news of the setback.


"The prognosis — I'd be lying if I said anything other than poor," he said at the time.


"When I said his prognosis was poor at that point, I was very devastated. I really didn't think that we were going to pull through to this point," Richardson said later.

However, fans never lost hope, sending tens of thousands of get-well cards and even Christmas ornaments, proving that America loves rooting for an underdog.


"The story has become one not of athletic greatness, but one of the greatness of character," said Laura Hillenbrand, author of "Seabiscuit."

"This is … a horse who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'quit,'" Hillenbrand said.


Doctors say they took their cues from a horse whose spirit never waned. Now, they say retirement for their prized patient may someday involve life on a stud farm.


"He's a pretty adaptable guy. He likes to meet other animals, he really does," Richardson said. "What we'd like to have him meet, eventually, would be receptive mares. That's what we'd like him to meet."

 

[piglet too]

Yeah for Barbaro!! I am so glad that this guy is pulling through against all odds.

 

[TerriP]

I have been reading the updates every other week...but watching that video this morning..WOW! I admit to some tears.

I told DH that this is definitely one of the best "feel good" stories of 2006!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I'm hoping everyone is still subscribed to this thread. My mom just called with a Barbaro update she read on the Penn Vet. website. Look like Barbaro could really use a lot of prayers and pixie dust. This doesn't look good....

Update from Dr. Dean W. Richardson on Barbaro’s condition

January 28, 2007
KENNETT SQUARE, PA — On Saturday, January 27, Barbaro was taken back to surgery because we could not keep him comfortable on his right hind foot. That foot developed a deep subsolar abscess secondary to bruising when he went through a period of discomfort on the left hind foot. It is not laminitis but the undermining of the sole and part of the lateral heel region are potentially just as serious. We attempted to manage the right hind foot in a cast and then in a custom fabricated brace but it was impossible to have access to the foot for treatment as well as acceptable stability and comfort. We elected to place his right hind in an external skeletal fixation device in order to provide the foot a chance to heal. This means that two steel pins have been placed transversely through his right hind cannon bone. These pins are connected to external sidebars that in turn are connected to a lightweight alloy foot plate. This results in the horse eliminating all weight bearing from the foot; the horse's weight is borne through the pins across his cannon bone. There is significant risk in this approach but we believed it was our only option given the worsening of the right hind foot problem. The major risk of the external skeletal fixation device is that the bone bearing the weight can fracture. Unfortunately, we felt we needed to take this risk because this approach offered our only hope of keeping Barbaro acceptably comfortable.

He had a perfect recovery from anesthesia and has been in and out of the sling since then. His left hind foot appears to be stable at this time. We remain concerned about both front feet. Remarkably, his attitude and appetite were excellent overnight.

We will continue to treat Barbaro aggressively as long as he remains bright, alert and eating. This is another significant setback that exemplifies how complex his medical situation remains because both hind limbs have major problems. Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. Updates will be provided when new information is available.

For more information on Barbaro, please see www.vet.upenn.edu

 

[crazymomof4]

I'm so worried about Barbaro!
Just a month ago he was doing so well.
They were talking about releasing him from the hospital.
Now this!
Hoping that he will again overcome yet another setback!
This poor guy has been through so much and yet his attitude remains positive.
What an inspiration!

Forever a Champion!

 

[drgnfly30]

It doesn't sound good...
http://www.nbc10.com/sports/10864583/detail.html

 

[LakeAriel]

So sorry I started a new thread, I hadn't seen this..Prayers for Barbaro!

 

[crazymomof4]

I just watched ESPN tv news update on Barbaro.
The announcer began by saying, "Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is on his last legs, literally." I almost choked on my coffee. How dare they treat this champion athlete with such disrespect. Would they use the same phrase to describe a human sports star who was in critical condition? I just hope none of Barbaro's staff and caretakers were watching!
I just finished writing a complaint to ESPN tv. If you have a minute, I urge you to do the same. This horse, his 1000's of fans worldwide and especially his owners and caretakers, deserve better than this kind of insensitivity!

Here's the link to espn tv where you can write:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv:mad:

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I was checking out several of the local channels. The headline on one of them said that they fear that Barbaro may have broken another bone. I'm assuming that it's the one they just drilled a pin through on one of his latest surgeries. Every channel is quoting Dr. Richardson saying that any other setbacks or Barbaro not eating and they'll quit. It was heartbreaking to watch him back in that sling trying to put his feet down. I don't know how the poor guy has made it this far but I'm still hoping for a miracle. Lots of thoughts and prayers to Barbaro, his caretakers and owners.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I just watched ESPN tv news update on Barbaro.
The announcer began by saying, "Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is on his last legs, literally." I almost choked on my coffee. How dare they treat this champion athlete with such disrespect. Would they use the same phrase to describe a human sports star who was in critical condition? I just hope none of Barbaro's staff and caretakers were watching!
I just finished writing a complaint to ESPN tv. If you have a minute, I urge you to do the same. This horse, his 1000's of fans worldwide and especially his owners and caretakers, deserve better than this kind of insensitivity!

Here's the link to espn tv where you can write:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv:mad:

Thanks for the warning! I will not be tuning into ESPN for any updates.

 

[Jennifer S]

I'm from Philly and they just announced Barbaro has died. I'm sure it will be on all over the place soon.

Poor Barbaro. You gave it a good fight.

 

[Allie322]

My local news just reported that Barbaro was euthanized this morning. What a shame. So sorry for all of the racing fans and animal lovers.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I'm from Philly and they just announced Barbaro has died. I'm sure it will be on all over the place soon.

Poor Barbaro. You gave it a good fight.

I am simply heartbroken. Rest in peace Barbaro.