Used to work with Robin and am acquainted with Scott. We’re lucky to have such good vets here, for sure. Would be great to have John Henry, Cigar and Barbaro here - a true Hall of Champions!
Update 1202: My fourth visit with Barbaro.
So today I was to meet Mrs. Jackson and John Hennegan at 10 am at New Bolton. John and his brother are making a movie “The First Saturday in May” for which John is filming the epilogue, so following up with Barbaro. Peter Brette had mentioned this project to me a few months ago, and John and I had had a brief conversation in the summer about it and the state of horse racing in general. We had not met. Mrs. Jackson thought it would be good for us to meet (for which I was very grateful, as not only was I interested in meeting John, it meant a visit with Barbaro). Given I needed to be at New Bolton by 10 am I cut my Fair Hill work short this morning. Hawty Creek breezed yesterday so she was having a day off anyway. Another of the horses I ride also had (an unscheduled) day off! I arrived at New Bolton ten minutes early, which gave me just enough time to place another poster on the outside fence line at New Bolton.
Once I got into the lobby I chatted with Kathy Freeborn as I waited for John and Mrs. Jackson. Kathy has promised to take a couple of pictures of the outside fence line so everyone can see how it is looking with all the new posters.
John arrived first. We made our brief introductions, and Mrs. Jackson arrived very shortly thereafter, and right on 10 am. Mrs. Jackson had her usual bag of grass for Barbaro and led John and I back to the ICU. As we went back John began filming. We entered the ICU, put on our ICU garments and went in to see Barbaro. He has now been moved back to his old unit (I had not seen him in this unit) but is in a different stall. Both his old stall and this stall are similar in size, and both have windows, but Barbaro’s current view is much more interesting (outside, fields etc. rather than the back of another building). Mrs. Jackson opened Barbaro’s stall door (it is a sliding door) about a foot and placed the freshly cut grass close to the stall door. It took a minute or so for Barbaro to be encouraged to start to eat the grass, but once he did, he was very contented. All the while John was filming, he also asked Mrs. Jackson questions for which she was hooked up to a microphone. Barbaro also receives some carrots, spearmint mints, stud muffins etc. He did get a little fiesty from time-to-time and I put on his halter so we had a little control if needed. We basically hung out for about an hour while John was filming, Barbaro was eating, and moving around his stall, peering out of his window (which is closed of course as it is a temparture controlled environment). This was also the first time I got to see his right hind leg without anything on it. In the deep straw it looks great, its only when you see the leg raised do you notice it is a little different now after all the surgery he has had. He also has a pretty big shoe on the end of it! Towards the end Barbaro decided to lie down. It seemed to take him a little while to get in position to lie down, he is quite deliberate about things he does, in order to take care of himself I think. Anyway, John thought this was brilliant, and Mrs. Jackson illustrated to us how gentle Barbaro is when he is lying down (she went up to pet him and he looked so at peace.)
All in all a great visit, and the staff everywhere were great. John was planning to meet Tom (the Jackson’s farm manager) later so he could get some footage of Barbaro outside grazing, and what a beautiful day it is this afternoon for that to happen. I went to lunch with Jennifer Rench (New Bolton PR) and we caught up an everything that is Barbaro!
Update 1201: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I visited him with Mrs. Jackson and John Hennegan, from 10 am to about 11:30 am. John is making a movie / documentary, with his brother Brad, titled “The First Saturday in May”. This movie follows the stories of Barbaro, Brother Derek, Laywer Ron, Jazil, Sharp Humor and Achilles of Troy. More on the visit in the next update. The New Bolton Update will likely not be much before the end of the day.
update 1:45 pm, tuesday, december 19 ~ Thanks, Alex.
Update 1204: A nice editorial from the Bloodhorse: Beyond Barbaro. It includes the following excerpt:
The son of Dynaformer would have none of it. Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s beloved colt demonstrated other-worldly intelligence, matched only in size and scope by his courage and heart. Barbaro could play the role of the Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man – after they’d been to see the Wizard of Oz.
Wouldn’t it be nice if some of those attributes gravitated toward Thoroughbred industry leaders?
A few years ago I interviewed Ray Paulick for a class I was teaching: Internet Conversation with Raymond Paulick, Editor in Chief, Bloodhorse.
A couple of articles on Hard Spun’s facile win yesterday: Hard Spun Draws Crowd, Raves in Nursery Win and Hard Spun ends local run with another win.
The Cecil Whig ran this story yesterday on Mike Rea: HOUSE WHISPERER WANTED *Horse trainer’s family hopes for Extreme Home Makeover. It includes the follwing exerpt:
Someone clued her in to the ABC show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which renovates homes to meet families’ various needs.
In October Rehm started a petition to rally for the show to feature her brother’s family. So far she has garnered signatures from people around the world n many who know of Mike by association with Barbaro blogs. The petition has more than 3,000 signatures so far. There’s no telling how many it will take for ABC to take notice, Rehm said, but every signature is another sign of hope.
Update 1203: From New Bolton: The December 19 update has been postponed until tomorrow. I assume this is simply because it got too late in the day. Thanks, Alex.
Wednesday Morning ~
Update 1205: A couple of articles that wrap up what we can learn from yesterday: Barbaro on the move? and No decision made after Barbaro sees foot specialist. The upshot being no one yet knows the plans for moving Barbaro. I met Sandra McKee yesterday for the first time while at New Bolton. I also spoke briefly to Mike Jensen on the phone.
One interesting excerpt from the Philadelphia Inquirer article:
Even without an exact timetable, she said, “things are moving along.” Jackson reported that a catheter had been taken out of Barbaro’s neck yesterday at the Kennett Square facility that has been the horse’s home for seven months since he suffered catastrophic injuries in the May 20 Preakness. "That’s a major step," Jackson said.
It is seven months for Barbaro and New Bolton today. A couple more snippets from my visit yesterday. John and I commented on the quality of music Barbaro was listening to … the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were playing on the radio, not country music! Peter Brette was happy to hear that when I spoke to him last night. Barbaro was also playing the game of getting the spearmint mints, stud muffins (which are also small) and sugar cubes off the stall ledge, without dropping them on the stall floor. He was very careful when doing it, moving his top lip like an elephant moves its trunk when seeking something! Very cool.
From the “Barbaro on the Move” article (see link in post above):
…Richardson and Morrison were unavailable for comment yesterday. New Bolton expected to issue a statement today about Morrison’s examination. Gretchen Jackson said she did not believe that there would be a need to move the horse to Rood & Riddle or another major equine hospital.
VB you are soooo lucky to have seen Barbaro. Thank God that 6 months have seen his recovery continue. There are many horses in heaven pulling for this boy to make it.
Can’t wait for the movie, what a great event that will be. Hope they sell it on DVD for all of us to have a copy 
Thanks for all the updates!
Grow hoof, Grow.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;2075811]
It is seven months for Barbaro and New Bolton today. A couple more snippets from my visit yesterday. John and I commented on the quality of music Barbaro was listening to … the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were playing on the radio, not country music! Peter Brette was happy to hear that when I spoke to him last night. Barbaro was also playing the game of getting the spearmint mints, stud muffins (which are also small) and sugar cubes off the stall ledge, without dropping them on the stall floor. He was very careful when doing it, moving his top lip like an elephant moves its trunk when seeking something! Very cool.[/QUOTE]
Ok, I can’t NOT comment on this. For the record, Barbaro has grown quite fond of the country music! He much prefers it to everything else! :lol::lol: :lol:
Update 1206: No update yet today for Barbaro (noon), but we know New Bolton is planning its update for today. A nice opinion article in the Bloodhorse from Dr. Joan C. Hendricks, Dean of Penn Vet: Seize the Moment. It includes the following excerpt:
We must use this opportunity – we may not get another – to raise funds to move forward on equine diseases such as laminitis. We must focus and invest more time, science, and funds in preventing and treating performance injuries. For complex animals with complicated diseases, we have only a tiny amount of money; despite historic highs, the total amount available at the two major equine charities is still less than $4 million. While everyone involved in raising these funds deserves applause, let me put this in perspective: These amounts are less than one National Institutes of Health award granted this year to the University of Pennsylvania for human clinical research. No one can expect to make progress in fighting a complex medical problem with this kind of insufficient funding.
Update 1207: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). Mrs. Jackson just called (12:30 pm) to let us know, after her morning visit.
update 12:40 pm, wednesday, december 20
Thanks, Alex.
SO cool that Alex got to see Barbaro once again!
Is there any talk about him turning all his wonderful updates into a Barbaro’s Recovery book? Sure would be a neat read!
From The Thoroughbred Times:
Sir Barton Stakes renamed Barbaro Stakes
The Maryland Jockey Club has changed the name of the Sir Barton Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for three-year-olds on the Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard at Pimlico Race Course, to the Barbaro Stakes.
Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands! (G1) winner, shattered his right hind leg during last year’s Preakness and remains at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center.
Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the son of Dynaformer won the 2005 Laurel Futurity as a two-year old. Trained by Michael Matz, he won six races at five different tracks on the turf, over the slop, and on fast main tracks.
“We thought it was the right thing to do,” MJC President Lou Raffetto said. "Barbaro has become the most popular racehorse in the country because of his courageous battle to overcome such a severe injury.
“This change will allow the next generation of race fans to reflect upon this magnificent and beloved champion during Preakness day at Pimlico.”
The Sir Barton Stakes was named after the first horse to capture the Triple Crown in 1919. The Sir Barton Stakes was first run at Pimlico in 1993.
Sarava was the most famous winner, using the race as a springboard to a victory in the 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1) three weeks later.
[B][COLOR=
[/B]critically needed equipment such as a new equine sling and raft, operating table and specialized ophthalmology equipment. I am deeply grateful for the chance to thank you for all you have done—and hope you will continue to do—for New Bolton Center and the thousands of animals we care for each year.
Recently, Penn’s New Bolton Center has had tremendous exposure in the national and international media. The focus on one patient—albeit a world-famous equine celebrity—has allowed us to let the light shine in on a very special place that does great work in a variety of areas. Barbaro is but one of many horses and other animals we care for daily, all of whom are anonymous but just as precious to their owners and us as is Barbaro. We pride ourselves on giving all our patients the same extraordinary level of care, among the best they can receive anywhere in the world.
I hope you will support the Friends of New Bolton Center; Friends’ gifts are key to our ability to provide a wide range of services to our patients. They are used to purchase vital diagnostic equipment, obtain critical medical supplies and send students and clinicians to continuing education conferences so that they can expand their already-wide areas of knowledge and expertise.
It is my year-end hope that you will feel inspired to make a gift to support the Friends of New Bolton Center. I can’t emphasize strongly enough the importance of these funds to the advancement of our work in teaching, discovery and healing. Without it, we could not do all that we presently accomplish.
Many changes are in store for New Bolton Center and the Widener Hospital. In the coming years, we will see improvements and advances, in our surroundings and our expertise. You can play an important role in those improvements through your caring and generosity.
On behalf of all of us at Penn Veterinary Medicine, I thank you and wish you warmth this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Dean W. Richardson, DVM
The Charles W. Raker Professor of Surgery
Chief, Section of Surgery
The George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals
University of Pennsylvania
[B]From New Bolton Center; December 20th Update on Barbaro:
[/B]KENNETT SQUARE, PA-- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was examined yesterday by Dr. Scott Morrison, head of the equine podiatry service at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. “Barbaro is stable and comfortable although we remain concerned about the long term management of his left hind foot,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. According to Barbaro’s medical team, Dr. Morrison did some minor work on Barbaro’s left hind foot, and made recommendations concerning the management of that foot. “There is no timetable at this moment concerning Barbaro’s discharge from the hospital,” said Dr. Richardson. “His comfort on both hind limbs is good and his overall condition is excellent.”
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, January 2, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
Picture of the Right Hind Leg! No Wraps!
Update 1210: Three new Barbaro photographs from today: Barbaro Photo Album
Included is one of the right hind leg that was shattered.
Thanks, Alex.
[B](From the Thoroughbred Times) http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/commentary/commentary.asp#viewpoints
A wonderful article that needs to be read in it’s entirety, but here are some of the high points:[/B][B]
Lessons learned from Barbaro[/B]
His surgeon discusses the trials and challenges of caring for the high-profile Kentucky Derby winner
[COLOR=black][B]by Dean W. Richardson, D.V.M.
[/B][/COLOR]As the year draws to a close, the crush of media and public attention since mid-May on the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center’s most famous resident patient, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Barbaro, has resulted in 2006 being an exciting, if busy, time for everyone connected with the horse.
While things now have settled down and are back to normal here at the New Bolton Center, I remain cautious about Barbaro.
[COLOR=black]I think it was obvious, even before he broke down, that Barbaro has genuine charisma; he is a big, beautiful colt with real presence. He is also a horse who just seems to do things right. When you talk to trainer Michael Matz about the horse or with people who have worked with the horse, one part of the conversation is remarkably consistent: What an intelligent, untroubled kind of a horse he is. He is a horse who goes about his business in a very professional way, not in a dull way. He basically just seems to do things right, and that is a pretty attractive feature in a horse. You do not have to fight to get him to do the right thing.
[COLOR=Blue]and
[/COLOR][/COLOR]
High-profile patient
In my experience, the unique feature to Barbaro’s case is that we have managed to at least get this far despite two simultaneous problems. Each of them alone often has been cause for euthanasia. I think it is a fair statement to say that our management challenges concerning Barbaro’s care and treatment have been more difficult than the specific intraoperative surgical challenges.
Another aspect of Barbaro’s case that has been different is that there have been literally no bounds as to what we could try to keep him comfortable as we attempted to save his life. Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson always have been willing to do whatever it would take, as long as the horse stayed comfortable. I hope the public at large has come to realize that there are horse owners out there like the Jacksons who are truly interested in doing the right thing for their horses.
A third important component of Barbaro’s care has been the meticulous feeding program we have had him on from the outset. One of the most important considerations in a horse convalescing from a major injury is to get enough nutrition into him. Many hospitalized horses do not eat enough, and those that have suffered severe weight loss are not willing to eat as well as they need to eat.
So we have been meticulous in trying to make sure that he eats a very high-calorie, high-protein diet with appropriate supplements. We have paid close attention to that because, as any racehorse trainer will tell you, there is little chance to make a really good athlete out of a horse that does not eat well.
That is one of the things that has been a big plus with Barbaro; he continues to eat very well for a horse who has been confined to a stall for as long as he has. Eventually, a lot of horses just lose their enthusiasm for eating. Perhaps one big reason Barbaro has thrived is that Mrs. Jackson visits him twice every day and brings Barbaro fresh-cut grass right off their farm.
[B]
and
[/B] Personal attachment
Right now, Barbaro is undergoing some degree of physical therapy, but we are very limited as to what we can do. If he did not have the problem with his left hind foot, he would certainly be getting more aggressive rehabilitation right now. We would be aiming toward getting him strong enough to cover mares this coming year if he did not have the problem with his left hind foot. It is very difficult to predict how long (or even if) he will grow an acceptable quality hoof. At this point, we are happy that he can exercise enough to stay healthy and happy.
Unless it is raining, Barbaro goes outside every day, usually for 40 to 60 minutes. He is always kept on a lead shank, and only a very few people are allowed to graze him. He is a very well-behaved colt, but we still recognize that he is not ready to be allowed to get too frisky.
One of the nicest aspects of this whole episode is that the Jacksons have been steadfast throughout in terms of clearly wanting to do what is best for the horse. I have to admit, the one thing that has been the most irritating to me is hearing people claim that it is all about money. I do not know how many times I have attempted to clarify that such an explanation is complete nonsense.
The Jacksons are not trying to save Barbaro for that reason; they are doing what they think is the right thing for the horse. They never have questioned how much everything costs, never tried to take the easy way out, or even suggest it. On top of that, they are genuinely nice, humble people who are fortunate enough to own a couple of great racehorses right now.
There is no doubt that the grimmest time during this whole story to date was when the laminitis set in; it was just crushing. Even now, it is difficult to occasionally think about it. I am not one to live in the past, but it is hard not to imagine that if it had not happened, Barbaro would be in Kentucky right now. At the time it happened, Barbaro foundered so badly and so quickly that I did not have much hope that we were going to be able to keep him going. I was absolutely devastated.
When the four of us–the Jacksons, trainer Michael Matz, and me–were discussing the gravity of the situation, there were no dry eyes. But the nice thing is that there was one other individual there taking part in the decision who didn’t have tears in his eyes. That was Barbaro! Because he was just standing there–looking like a great horse–telling us that he wanted to go on.
[COLOR=black]That is why we went on then and why we continue to go on now.
[/COLOR]Dean W. Richardson, D.V.M., is the Charles W. Raker professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square. He recently was named the recipient of the Turf Publicists of America’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award. He and New Bolton received the National Turf Writers Association’s Joe Palmer Award last month.
Update 1212: I just got the word Barbaro will be on Good Morning America tomorrow as well as World News Tonight:
The GMA piece will air around 7:30 - 7:40am tomorrow (they often change the air time depending on other late breaking news). It will also air on Worlds News Tonight tomorrow night, as well as various other networks around the country.
I know a Fan of Barbaro was interviewed for this piece when adding a poster to the fence line, lets hope that makes the news too!
Thanks, Alex.
Thursday Morning ~
pdate 1214: I don’t think anyone would argue with this: Barbaro…Simply the Best. To follow that up, in the Philadelphia area anyway, In 2006 horse race, Barbaro was the best. Thanks, Alex.
I just saw the Barbaro piece on GMA, and the tears just wouldn’t stop. He is truly a GREAT horse. He has been an inspiration to so many. I hope he knows, on some “horsey” level, what he has meant to the country. GO BARBARO!! WE LOVE YOU!!!
I just watched “Barbaro, Simply the Best”
What a wonderful tribute…he sure is the best, still drying my eyes.
Thanks so much for the wonderful, inspirational Barbaro updates. Truly an amazing horse surrounded by amazing humans. Thanks again!
