To follow up on the comments of Drs. Hendricks and Richardson, I just wanted to let you know that annual giving, charitable donations, to ALL animal related charitable causes is around 1/2% of total donations to all charities.
I hope the tremendous focus on Barbaro and New Bolton will increase awareness of the enormous need for funding (and generate funds), not only of research, but all things animal focused.
Update 1215: The Good Morning America piece: Barbaro Recovers: A True Champion. This includes new video from Penn, filmed yesterday, as well as footage from last friday’s visit (the New Bolton fence line and Christmas Tree etc.) of GMA.
Don’t forget, Barbaro will be on World News Tonight.
It isn’t a pretty sight seeing him walk - I hope that improves with time and he has some quality of life (I hope he can be a horse, maybe in a field with no lead rope attached???).
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;2078810]
Update 1215: The Good Morning America piece: Barbaro Recovers: A True Champion. This includes new video from Penn, filmed yesterday, as well as footage from last friday’s visit (the New Bolton fence line and Christmas Tree etc.) of GMA.
Don’t forget, Barbaro will be on World News Tonight.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for posting the video from GMA. I’ll be sure to catch him tonight on World News. 
Barbaro recovery
Lora, I couldn’t agree with you more. I too hope for further improvement for him, his well-being and quality of life. That leg isn’t a pretty picture but beats the alternative. If I could right now, I’d give him a big hug and a sweet kiss on his nose. He has endured more than his share. My heart goes out to him … he’s a heart breaker … Bless him.
Virginiabred, you are simply amazing…thank you and all your contacts for remaining vigilant in giving us updates! Merry Christmas to you!
I guess him getting to go out alone will depend on how sensible he is on moving around. Theoretically that fused bone should be just as strong as (or stronger) normal bone but that angle his leg is at is somewhat of a concern. Esp. if he were to take off bucking and kicking! I’m hoping that maybe the swelling and deformed hoof is making that look worse. I guess that indicates damage to the circulatory system (as expected in such an injury) and only time will tell if that will improve or not. Probably if it had not been for the laminitis that wouldn’t be so bad as he could have gotten moving around so much more and so much sooner which would have stimulated more circulation and more healing.
It looks kind of scary but it certainly doesn’t seem to bother him much. It is a shame that TBs don’t allow AI. With a few jumps a month he could (eventually) service a full book of mares with little impact on his legs or fear of being kicked.
Thanks for bringing the story and the links! He is Simply The Best.
Go Bobby Go!
I am glad to see he appears happy, but admit seeing that leg made my heart thud. What a brave good boy. He is a Champian in so many ways.
Thanks VB for keeping this up for us- very appreciated! Happy Holidays!
I doubt that he will ever get the pleasure of being turned out alone, much less running again. It makes me sick to my stomach to see everything he has gone through (especially the deformity of the limb and his subsequently painfully stick gait), but I am glad he looks happy enough. Keep your ears up, Barbaro!
I haven’t watched the video but saw the pics on the NBC website. The leg and hoof aren’t pretty, but when you look at those eyes, how can you doubt???
Update 1217: Mrs. Jackson just called to report Barbaro was again comfortable during her morning visit this morning.
I caught up with Mike Jensen (Philadelphia Inquirer) when I visited New Bolton to hang the latest posters I received (and I know there are more to come). He was there to try to get an interview with Dr. Richardson, which he did after I left. Channel 6 Action News was also there, so plenty of media coverage continuing.
Bloodhorse is running this story: Barbaro Update: Derby Winner’s New Home Undecided, so while nothing has yet been finalised, it seems the Kentucky Horse Park has been ruled out as Barbaro’s next home. The following is an excerpt:
Roy Jackson said no decision has been made on Barbaro’s next stop on his road to recovery. He said it has not even been determined which state where he might end up, but that a major consideration is going to be a climate favorable to regular exercise for Barbaro.
“There is nothing concrete (about a new home for Barbaro) but everybody is on the same page that when we get into a period of ice and snow at the facility there, he won’t be able to go outside and exercise. The best thing for him is to be able to move around and everybody feels that it would be best if he was at a location where he would be able to do that,” Jackson said Thursday, Dec. 21.
Thanks, Alex.
Update 1218: Channel 6 Action News (ABC affiliate) just aired their piece. It included an interview with Dr. Richardson and Kathy Freeborn “He’s a loved horse”, shots of the Christmas Tree and a poster from the outside fence line. A nice upbeat report which also included some of the video taken yesterday by Penn. ~ Alex
ABC World News
Is doing a piece after this commercial.
ABC World News Video is up
They have a few clips of him walking. You might have to search the site a bit, but currently it’s one of the top stories.
I do think he will be able to be turned out by himself. When all was well, Michael Matz had him going out in one of those portable turnouts that is small and almost like a large round pen. Not large enough to get into much trouble.
That would be ideal.
beautiful Barbaro
From what I understand, it has NOT been suggested or stated that Barbaro can’t go out by himself. It’s believed that he will adjust to what his new lifestyle calls for. For certain there won’t be a risk taken of him having any accident in or around ice, which narrows the field of where he goes next, (stated by Mr. Jackson). From the looks of his leg, live coverage may be a problem. This is a personal opinion and I hope if it is a problem for Barbaro, HIS best interests and well-being are numero uno.
I find this whole process of his treatment and recovery just fascinating. He truly shows us that despite all the medical advances, it still takes a positive attitude to keep fighting.
Amazing!
Thank you for your continued updates. I missed part of the GMA story this morning, so I really appreciate the video link.
IMHO I think since he has only been out of a splint/cast 30 days some of his movement and mobility in that leg will get better. Just like a person in a cast you just dont come out and run right away. Obviously the leg is a bit turned and the hoof has some issues but that may impove over time. Part of the unnaturalness of his gait seems to be from lack of use. Walking for and hour a day compared to what he did before is a huge diffrence for his body to compensate for.
I would bet that if the left foot holds out he will be just fine.
Barbaro made it on to our National news tonight. They included the video footage of the race in the story and I just burst straight into tears! I so wished I had known that they were about to show that so I could shut my eyes 
- I would be lying if I said that his current appearance does not give me the collywobbles but what an amazing fighting spirit he must have, bless him.
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