Update 984: Peter Brette visited Barbaro this afternoon. Dean Richardson had already taken him out for his pick of grass so Peter just groomed him and changed his bandages. Another upbeat report. As we heard from the press coverage late last week, they are planning to replace Barbaro’s cast likely early this coming week.
Monday Morning~
Update 986: The Barbaro update this morning may come at anytime. I say this because I think Michael Matz flew back from the Breeders’ Cup yesterday, so is likely going to be in Fair Hill this morning. I would not anticipate it coming too early though.
Thanks, Alex.
I checked in early anyway! My usual, after the horses were fed but before I tackled cleaning stalls! Glad Michael had a win in the Breeder’s Cup! 
Like all of us though, I wish it had been with Bobby! 
But hey, the big guy’s gonna lose his cast this week. 
Hope all goes well. Now, where’s that ‘crossing your fingers’ icon.
Update 987: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (sunday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was going to the track on my third set. A beautiful, crisp morning this morning here at Fair Hill. The moon provided a nice source of light for the first set at quarter of six. Right now I am walking back from the track on my third set, a horse I just broke from the gate to get his gate card.
Michael returned from Kentucky yesterday and visited Barbaro in the evening. He was happy with how Bobby was doing.
Round Pond has also returned from Kentucky and Michael said that as soon as the sun is up, she’ll be turned out in the paddock.
(monday November 6th 7:20am)
Thanks Alex!
I will keep my fingers crossed this week for Bobby. Every good day is one day closer to him being a horse again and out in his paddock grazing happily.
Alex and VB - you are just the BEST!!! I don’t know either one of you personally but sure feel like I do. I guess that is how Bobby has made all of us feel. Is there even a question at to who is HORSE OF THE YEAR???
Cast Removed!! on MSNBC.com
Big step: Doctors remove Barbaro’s cast
Lower right hind leg was in cast since surgery following Preakness injury
The Associated Press
Updated: 5:32 p.m. CT Nov 6, 2006
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Barbaro is walking freely, without a cast.
Nearly six months after a horrifying accident at the Preakness, Barbaro had the cast removed from his lower right hind leg on Monday. The Kentucky Derby winner was in the cast since having surgery on May 21, a day after the second race of the Triple Crown series.
“He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood. He walked easily back to his stall,” said Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. “He used all of his legs quite well.”
Barbaro’s left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn’t shown signs of any new problems.
“The hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered,” Richardson said.
During Monday’s procedure, Barbaro’s foot was trimmed and a new shoe was glued on it. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.
Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness. The 3-year-old colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated.
Richardson said after performing surgery the pastern bone was shattered in “20-plus pieces.”
Barbaro’s right hind bones healed so well after surgery his cast could have been off months ago, if not for the laminitis in his other hind leg. The painful hoof disease prevented the cast from being removed sooner because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.
Barbaro’s devastating injuries captured the attention of racing fans across the nation this summer. The outpouring of sympathy was overwhelming and daily updates on Barbaro’s condition were provided by the medical staff at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15521735/
© 2006 MSNBC.com
Cast Off, Laminitis foot evaluated
Update 991: New Bolton’s update on today’s cast: Barbaro’s cast removed today:
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro’s right hind leg cast was removed today, according to his medical team. “Barbaro was placed under general anesthesia for the cast removal,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. “In addition, his foot was trimmed and a new shoe glued on. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.”
Barbaro’s lower right hind leg had been in a cast since surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital following his accident at the Preakness on May 20. “He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood; he walked easily back to his stall,” said Dr. Richardson. “He used all of his legs quite well.”
Barbaro’s left hind foot, which had laminitis, was also fully evaluated while he was under anesthesia. “There are no signs of new problems with that foot, but the hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered,” said Dr. Richardson.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, November 14, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
Update 990: I just spoke to Mrs. Jackson. She told me that Barbaro had his cast replaced today (I did not ask what with) and all was well with the process (pool recovery etc.) She was pretty upbeat about it. I assume more details will be forthcoming in the New Bolton release!
I just saw it on MSNBC, so I came here and see VB’s ever faithful update from NB! YAY!!! I know we’ve still got plenty to wait and jingle for with his lh foot, but this is such a big step…made my day (even above my new car, which will be picked up tomorrow afternoon)!!! YAY!
Off to light more candles now…
Thank you. This is very smiley NEWS!!!
Ahem… and onto the next phase. Good thing is, Barbaro seems to have his part down pat (again)
FANTASTIC NEWS!!!
The only thing better than this will be to get my boy home from the hospital too…hopefully next week!
HOORAY for team Barbaro!
YEAH! Barbaro!!! This is the first major step and I hope he continues to do well, maybe it will ease the pain of the demise of Pine Island, she wasn’t as lucky as him…
VB how can I thank you for all your devotion to us…I will keep jingling and lighting candles until he gets to run free without pain…
Does anyone know what kind of supplements he is getting?
This is such great news and so exciting. If he can hold up with the cast off and start being exercised, I think I may finally believe it’s all going to be okay for him!
[QUOTE=catknsn;1980094]
This is such great news and so exciting. If he can hold up with the cast off and start being exercised, I think I may finally believe it’s all going to be okay for him![/QUOTE]
Not to rain on the parade… but there’s still that pesky little issue of not having a left foot… hard to say he’s out of the woods. And he’ll definitely be taking it easy seeing as how he’s a 3-footed horse, lol. But the cast being removed is a huge leap in the positive direction!
The cast is off, GO BARBARO! What a wonderful recovery, great horse, great owners and great crew. Grow left foot grow!
I was thrilled to see Michael Matz and Edgar Prado victorious in the BC, they deserved the thrill of another Churchill Downs victory.
Light more candles, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we do have more time yet to go.
Gosh I am so thrilled for all those involved with this wonderful horse. I am so happy that Barbaro was such a good patient and that all the work, time, effort and expense has given him this wonderful chance to recover. Yeah Bobby!
Big Step: Doctors Remove Barbaro’s Cast
www.msnbc.com
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Barbaro is walking freely, without a cast.
Nearly six months after a horrifying accident at the Preakness, Barbaro had the cast removed from his lower right hind leg on Monday. The Kentucky Derby winner was in the cast since having surgery on May 21, a day after the second race of the Triple Crown series.
“He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood. He walked easily back to his stall,” said Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. “He used all of his legs quite well.”
Barbaro’s left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn’t shown signs of any new problems.
“The hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered,” Richardson said.
During Monday’s procedure, Barbaro’s foot was trimmed and a new shoe was glued on it. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.
Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness. The 3-year-old colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated.
Richardson said after performing surgery the pastern bone was shattered in “20-plus pieces.”
Barbaro’s right hind bones healed so well after surgery his cast could have been off months ago, if not for the laminitis in his other hind leg. The painful hoof disease prevented the cast from being removed sooner because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.
Barbaro’s devastating injuries captured the attention of racing fans across the nation this summer. The outpouring of sympathy was overwhelming and daily updates on Barbaro’s condition were provided by the medical staff at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
HOORAY!!!
I got my Barbaro bracelets in the mail yesterday- what perfect timing!
GOOOOOOO BIG guy!!!
Wonderful news!
I hope that I’m reading correctly between the lines on that report in that the Drs. at NBC feel there is enough hoof growth on the left hind to sustain Bobby! I sure hope so! Heck, I might even try a cartwheel - no, on second thought, that’s a bad idea. I’ll just go celebrate and have a glass or 2 of wine! After all, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!!!
After I vote that is!
Thanks for the great news! : )
MORE CANDLES please!!! They are getting low again.
I’m with Texarkana - it’s VERY exciting and it is indeed a miracle that Our Boy has come so very very far, but I would not stop lighting candles just yet. Still too much could still go wrong.
But this really is awesome news - GO BARBARO!!!
Tuesday Morning ~ (One day after the cast removal! )
Update 994: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I walked to the track with Michael Matz’s set while on my fourth horse. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also visited Barbaro last night after racing at Delaware. He was happy with how Barbaro was handling his new legware. There was certainly an upbeat mood as we walked to the track.
Thanks, Alex!
SUCH GREAT NEWS!~
The radio here said… Barbao will breed happily ever after!
