Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[Auventera_Two]

@Texarkana;1943246

One of the laminitis experts at work (well, now former work seeing as how today was my last day!) was telling me it’s not always the weight distribution that causes the laminitis. There was a study oversees where they would actually tie a horse’s leg up and somehow “induce” laminitis. Apparently in that study the horses were just as likely to develop laminitis in the tied up leg as they were in the weight bearing leg. I wish I had the references to the actual study and more details… (And I’m not saying weight distribution doesn’t play a part in laminitis, I’m just throwing that out there as food for thought! I’m not a doctor nor have I spent a lifetime studying laminitis!)

Blood flow is introduced to the foot through the constant flexing of the hoof. When the leg flexes to take a step, veins are compressed at the back of the pastern. As the motion progresses and the strides completes, the vein is released. The pressure shoots the blood through the vein and through the foot. When a horse is on stall rest, laminitis is extremely common due to the decreased circulation through the foot.

I have a disection video from the Institute of Equine Podiatry which shows this very clearly. The disected leg is skinned and as the foot is physically bent back and forth to emulate a stride, you can clearly see veins and arteries being compressed and released accordingly. It’s long been thought that the frog is a blood pump, but this is not true. The frog is a mass of fatty tissue which has no signifigant veins or arteries. But rather the veins and arteries feeding the foot are located at the back of the pastern and travel down into the hoof capsule.

As the bloods flows into and out of the foot, toxins are cleaned from the tissues. When movement, and therefore circulation, are decreased, the toxins are allowed to build in the foot to a higher level. When a horse is on stall rest, the circulation to the hooves are minimal.

[I_m_EBO]

WHEN was the Barbaro story on TODAY? Is it today that it’s on TODAY? My search turned up nothing recent.

[The_Pie]

sorry

It was on yesterday morning. It brought tears to my eyes

[Gracious]

[QUOTE=The Pie;1949547]
It was on yesterday morning. It brought tears to my eyes[/QUOTE]

Is there anywhere to watch it online?

[eggbutt]

@VirginiaBred;1947479

Update 886: Here is the Today Show clip: Barbaro is beating the odds. The New Bolton footage was filmed October 12.

Here’s the Today Show on-line video. Totally wonderful! Get your Klennex ready.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 896: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had heard from Dr. Richardson. Peter is also planning to visit later today, so I will try to catch up again later.
update, tuesday, 12:00 pm
Thanks, Alex.

[VirginiaBred]

New Bolton Update

pdate 897: New Bolton’s Barbaro update for the day: Barbaro had another good week:

It has been a little over five months since Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was brought to the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. “I am happy to report that Barbaro had another good week, and his appetite and vital signs remain excellent,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital.

Barbaro’s right hind leg remains in a fiberglass cast. “We are being very conservative with the right hind (fractured) limb in order to help protect the foundered left hind foot.” said Dr. Richardson. “The hoof is growing slowly and not uniformly so it has a long way to go before it is acceptably strong and functional,” said Dr. Richardson. “The foot will require meticulous care for a long time and setbacks here and there are probable.”

Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.

Due to Barbaro’s continued improvement, the University will now be posting updates biweekly. The next update will be posted on Tuesday, November 7, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Tim/Alex:
Update 898: Fred Stone may be the most famous equine artist, its certainly the only name I would recall without prompting (although that does not mean a lot). This Thoroughbred Times article: Barbaro’s spirit provides latest inspiration to equine artist Stone discusses the struggles Mr. Stone went through before determining to paint Barbaro. The following is an excerpt:

“Emotionally, I was so hurt by what happened that I said to my wife [Norma] that I’m never going to paint another horse again, and I meant it,” Stone said. “I painted a little dog on a surfboard, and I started painting other things.”
Gradually, Stone’s stance began to soften as he watched the courageous three-year-old Dynaformer colt battle for his life while his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and the staff at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center did everything in their power to save Barbaro.

Here is his work.

[Gunnar]

Go Bobby go!
Candles are lit and chains are a jingling!!:sadsmile:

I could not get the Today video to work but I am sure I would have cried!:sadsmile:

Thanks VB!

[I_m_EBO]

Thanks for the link. It worked for me, gunnar, and I got a little misty. He’s such a GOOD boy!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 899: Alex just spoke to Peter Brette. He visited Barbaro earlier this afternoon and all remains well. He groomed Barbaro and took him outside.

[ivy62]

Thank you again VB for all the info and updates…I almost cried seeing the Today show clip… the longest part of Bobby’s journey is ahead of him and we must stand together with him to help in anyway possible. Laminitis is a killer even with the financial suport behind him. Does any one know if there have been any break throughs since Secreteriat contracted the problem?
Keep lighting candles and jingling…

[VirginiaBred]

Wednesday Morning~

Update 900: Today’s Barbaro update will again be later this morning.

[I_m_EBO]

Ivy62, during Secretariat’s days, I believe that the insulin resistance-caused laminitis hadn’t been documented/discovered, so they were probably feeding him according to the practices of the time. That could have been the problem that sealed his fate. From personal experience (the horse’s experience), I know that it’s possible to be in a laminitic state and still show norrmal blood values.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:
Update 901: Still no Barbaro update (as expected). I saw Peter on the track (he was on Chelokee) and he had not heard anything yet. It is another chilly morning at Fair Hill, yet quite pleasant. A couple of the two year olds I ride went to the gate for a little schooling. We seem to have plenty of Canadian geese around, I assume they are in transit.

[ElonGrad1997]

OMG, has anyone seen the Barbaro painting by Fred Stone?

Here’s a link: Barbaro

[VirginiaBred]

Yes, it’s amazing. I posted the link above, Update #898.

[ElonGrad1997]

Thanks, VB!!!

[summerhorse]

[QUOTE=I’m EBO;1951382]
Ivy62, during Secretariat’s days, I believe that the insulin resistance-caused laminitis hadn’t been documented/discovered, so they were probably feeding him according to the practices of the time. That could have been the problem that sealed his fate. From personal experience (the horse’s experience), I know that it’s possible to be in a laminitic state and still show norrmal blood values.[/QUOTE]

True they didn’t have a word for it but everybody knew that fat cresty horses were particularly prone to laminitis. And apparently no lessons have been learned from Secretariat’s death at some of these stud farms.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 902: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). I saw Peter after work. He had heard from Michael. Its likely Peter will again be visiting Barbaro today so I will try to follow up later.

Thanks, Alex