Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[NancyM]

On watching the video of Barbaro walking last night on the TV (we get very little coverage here), his gait is alarming and he is thin. These things are to be expected with what he has gone through, even with the best of care. Lack of excess body weight is a good thing, less weight for him to carry with the problems he has. His demenour is bright and alert, healthy. His gait may well improve with time and exercise and with the recovery of the foundered foot, but I think will be a long ways from anything approaching “normal” even when as fully recovered as he is going to get. And that’s OK, he does not need to be in perfect condition to be able to live. (Man, I would love to see pics of that foundered foot during it’s recovery, scarey I know, but soooo educational that I hope they release some eventually. I’ve had a mare with similar problems and information needs to get out about this) I agree that he looks like a fighter, one tough cookie to be able to survive what he has, something that not a lot of horses could do. He’s been lucky, to have the care and financing available to make this effort to save him, and the surgical staff has been lucky to have such a good patient. I believe that it has been a good thing to try to save him. Yes, he has had some pain, and yes he may well live with some discomfort. Lots of us do, both human and horse, what is important is how well an individual can deal with these problems to determine if life is worthwhile overall. Those close to the horse have the best idea how well he copes, and feel that he copes well and it is their decision to make, as communicated to them by the horse. His life may well be shortened as a result of this horrific injury. To me, it is unlikely that he will survive for 20 years like this with compensatory problems and loss of function problems. I fear for the public outcry should this happen, so many feel so close to this horse that when the inevidable happens some may try to assign blame where no blame will exist. But I think it is worthwhile to have made the attempt to save him, even if only for a few years of life. I hope that he will be able to cover some mares, even just a limited number of top mares for the few years that he may be able to do this. I think it is important to allow him to contribute to the gene pool, not only for his racing ability, but for his strength, both physical and mental to be able to survive and deal with it. One individual horse can make a difference to the TB breed, and this one might be it. If he can’t, it will be a loss for the TB breed, but it seems like his owners are content to deal with it either way.

Continued good luck to you Barbaro, and congratulations to his support staff for an unbelievabley well done job.

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

I was just talking to my friend about my TB mare. Stoic, that is she. She has DJD and an arthritic hip from a previous break. She is retired. I have her pasture sound on no meds for now, she is comfy and happy. She is bright-eyed and just as “enthusiastic” (read: hot headed) as she was when I got her as a just turned 4 year old off of the track. I still ride her now and then… Why? Because, if I don’t she gets needy for attention and she has always been a lover of work. She does her thing when I do ride her. She used to do dressage and hunters. We NEVER jump, but, she likes to do her dressage pony thing still. No, it is not correct, no, I do not do NEARLY the work we used to do, but she does put herself on the “bit” (not truely, but she PLAYS the part) and she will VOLUNTARILY do her halt canter transition because that was her FAVORITE thing to do in training years ago, I do NOT do anything she doesn’t want to do and most of the time, we just walk. My point is, some horses just have this inner spirit, this inner drive/need to live. Barbaro has that spirit and he has something special. He would let them know if he didn’t and I truely believe that, just as I do with Bugs. I am not saying all TBs are like that, and I am CERTAINLY not saying JUST TBs are like that, but some horses just do NOT let life get the better of them, if they were human, I’d say they were eternal optimists. Horses do not have that same concept of limitations that humans do, and they have this WONDERFUL ability to adapt and over-come that I am envious of. Animals REALLY do adapt much more readily that humans. If you need any proof of that, keep watching Barbaro, as he develops strength I think you will see the hitch in his get-a-long change drastically. Horses, as well as all animals, amaze me, perhaps that is why I respect and admire them the way I do.

[mareseatoats]

ENOUGH! on behalf of Barbaro (excuse me)

All of us so-called Horse lovers or horse, know-it-alls … IF Barbaro was in soooooooo much pain as some have stated in their replies, or miserable, as others are suggesting, he would not have the great appetite he does, the warm, soft eye glow he’s showing and futhermore, he’d be long gone! WHY question or doubt his quality of life, or for that matter, his life?
Yes, his right hind appears deformed, yes, he’s not balanced with his walk, yes, he has a problem with his left hind, that’s on the mend.
I too was heartbroken when I saw what I saw, but look at those eyes, those aren’t the eyes of a soul in pain.
What beats life for those that want to live?
If you REALLY love horses and you think you ‘connect’ with them, learn to listen … silence is golden.
This is a thread supportive of Barbaro and his life … take it elsewhere if you’re not on board.
Enjoy the Holidays, HE IS!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 1227: Mrs. Jackson called (11 am) after her morning visit with Barbaro. Barbaro remains comfortable. He was laying down when Mrs. Jackson arrived, he got up and enjoyed his Lael grass.
update 11:35 am, saturday, december 23
Thanks, Alex.

[Evalee_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Two Simple;2080852]
I watched him walking on a news clip last night and have to admit I gasped out loud at the sight of that hind leg. I’m very shocked at how run under it is. Is he going to stay sound on a leg like that?? I have not followed the Barbaro thing at all because I have very strong opinions on what should have been done - but anyway - suffice it to say that I have a dog with a plate in his hock and a measely 3 screws in the bone and I know the pain and suffering this dog has endured.

He’s going on 3 years of recovery now and he’s on medication for arthritis, and his leg has to stay wrapped in a heat wrap during cold/damp periods to keep him comfortable. The leg cannot be bumped or knocked on anything or he screams out. My husband and I are extremely cautious to monitor the leg and the dog’s pain level daily. 99% of the time he seems to be in no pain at all, but the leg is very deformed and has to be regularly radiographed to watch for changes. He was in a car accident and the leg was broken in 3 places.

I just cannot imagine the pain and suffering Barbaro has endured, and will continue to endure. And seeing the end result of that right hind leg makes me shake my head. It’s just unbelievable. Sometimes I think people just try to do WAY too much. If my dog’s pain ever becomes unmanageable or it affects his happiness, he will be euthanized without a second thought. I love him too much to let him suffer. I just hope to god that Barbaro’s people would do the same. You cannot keep an animal alive just so he can be a “hero.” There are worse fates than death. I truly hope the horse is not in pain, and I hope that leg continues to mend. A leg like that just can’t stay sound for another 20 years.[/QUOTE]

Your post is an illustration of how difficult it is to comment intelligently on a situation if you have not followed what is going on. Just one example - Barbaro’s pain was managed with an epidural for quite a while after his accident & surgery. The epidural pretty much meant he was not in pain at all. (Epidurals are used in humans as anesthesia for some types of surgery.)

I certainly don’t know a lot of details about his care & I do agree that he looks terrible, but I think the things you have imagined are mostly that … imagination because they have been managed out of the picture for this horse in the hospital setting.

How long will all this last? How long will his life be? No one can say, of course, but the veterinarians are saying he has the potential for a normal life span & I believe them. A filly survived a very similar injury & was surgically repaired at New Bolton & has gone on to be bred & have a couple of foals on such a leg. (Carrying that much extra weight is quite a stress!!) I doubt she has been written up in the popular press, but she has been written up (as a comparison to Barbaro) in the racing press. There was a racing filly in England with a somewhat similar (not quite as severe) injury that survived also, & I believe she has had a foal.

I know when my daughter’s mare had colic surgery almost 5 years ago, subsequent to foaling, I was horrified at how she looked. I felt we had tortured her (not so much the pain as allowing her to eat only certain amounts of food). I said, “I’ll never do this to a horse again.” Well, that mare is alive & thriving. She will soon be 21 & she has a wonderful quality of life, living in a herd with her friends. Yes, now, with the longer term perspective, I would “do it again”.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 1228: Alex’s fifth visit with Barbaro.

Today I was to meet Tom (the Jackson’s farm manager) and make sure I am familiar with everything that needs to be done with Barbaro as the plan is for me to substitute for Tom on Christmas day. I got to New Bolton a little early so I could hang another poster on the outside fence. Once completed I went to the ICU. I was not sure if Tom was already inside so I put on the appropriate wear and went inside. Tom was not there yet, and Barbaro was fast asleep. I left him be and went back outside to wait.
Tom arrived shortly thereafter along with his wife Kathy. We had quick introductions and then went inside. Tom went to work with Barbaro, cleaning him up and getting him ready to go outside. Once he was ready I led Barbaro outside and we walked up to his grazing spot and he dropped his head to graze. Tom Kathy and I were chit chatting as Barbaro continued to graze (talking about Barbaro of course). I then led Barbaro around for about five minutes and then continued to let him graze. It was a nice bright afternoon with a bit of a breeze. Barbaro has a blanket on when he goes outside and is just very relaxed. We stayed out for about forty minutes in total, I then led him back inside to his stall.
Once inside I tied Barbaro back up and Tom went back to work tidying him up. Along the way I met a couple more of the staff working in the ICU, one of whom will also be there for christmas day. Another very pleasant visit with a very cool horse. We left Barbaro at about 2:45 pm (having arrived at just after 1 pm) and I am making this update from New Bolton before heading up to New York for the afternoon.
Thanks, Alex.

[Kenike]

wow, that leg! Are they going to be able to breed him with that leg? At least he’s (mostly) healthy again, and he certainly appears to be happy.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[system]

Barbaro’s leg

I gulped also when I first saw the pictures. But I also remember when my dog broke her leg years ago. She’s an Italian Greyhound who broke her front leg close above the pastern joint when sheh was 7 months old. She’s now 17 years old and still has the plate in that leg that was inserted days after the injury.

When she was able to get the splint off, I almsot cried when I saw her leg, it had atrophied so much. She hadn’t been allowed to walk on it any more than necessary to go outside to relieve herself(on leash). When the splint came off I was instructed to start walking her a few minutes each day, gradually going for longer and longer walks.

What happened is that the leg got so much better that eventually no one could tell by looking at it that it had ever been injured. She ran and jumped on it and lived a completely normal life on it.

So I can put the way Barbaro’s leg looks now in some kind of perspective. And eve now Barbaro’s leg already looks better in some ways than Dancinginmydreams’ leg, hers is about the size of a bowling ball and his isn’t swollen nearly that much.

As others have said we will see in time how much better Barbaro’s leg will get with controlled exercise now that he is able to get out and have some exercise.

"I gulped as well… BUT… My understanding is that he has been kept in a cast for so long that he has lost muscle/ligament tone, and needs PT to help straighten that leg up/strengthen it, BUT that they can’t do aggressive PT yet b/c of the other foot. Makes sense to me. "

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

VB, that you for your continued updates! I am so glad that you have stuck with this!

[VirginiaBred]

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[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]Update 1229: This is the article Mike Jensen was working on when I caught up with him at New Bolton last week: Barbaro could receive the best present of all. It includes the following excerpt:

Sweeney pointed to a peppermint wreath in the corner of her office, and Churchill Downs sent a winter blanket for the recovering Kentucky Derby winner.
Other fans have written Christmas carols for Barbaro and sent them to New Bolton. Someone delivered a wreath made of baby organic carrots and a Christmas tree of green apples.
He has also received a custom-made halter, an embroidered blanket, a Santa hat, and even his own stocking.
And what else do you get for the horse who has everything?
“There’s now a star named Barbaro and a star named New Bolton Center,” Sweeney said. Both are in Constellation Hercules, named and paid for by “Grandma Bea” in the Poconos.

When I was visiting Barbaro yesterday someone mentioned a lovely bouquet of yellow roses had recently been delivered. As I was getting ready to leave I saw another gift arrive (more edible).

Thanks, Alex.

[Jessi_P]

What a very lucky boy! My horses will be jealous - so I won’t tell them that NO, they aren’t getting their own stars named for them! Of course none of mine won the Ky Derby either. :winkgrin:

Mine DO have carrots and peppermints stashed for tomorrow after present opening here at the house.

VB, as always, thank you for the continued updates and Christmas cheer!

[system]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas everyone! As I look back over the year, I am fortunate to have lots of wonderful moments that occured during the year. What also stands out is my devotion to this forum - to Barbaro - every day, to say good morning and say good night without ever posting.

What keeps me coming back? Why do I and why do so many care so much? (Now I sound like all the writers Alex so graciously links us to!) For me, who has been blessed with a wonderful year or prosperity for my business and health and happiness for myself, husband, friends, family, and dogs, I carry the burden of death and destruction of the Iraq war and all injustice I read in the paper each morning. Should I enjoy the mild weather or give in to the mild anxiety it causes because it might be gobal warming? And then, as if a port in the storm, I click on forums, racing, The Barbaro recovery… I spent most of my life working with hunters and jumpers and a few years working at the track grooming and galloping. I have had my heart captured a few times by three year old big bay colts before, ones I spent each day with… It actually doesn’t seem strange to have one capture it from so far away.

So I click each day to check on Barbaro; see what time Michael visited; see what was delivered to NBC; see which sportswriter carries the torch that is Barbaro’s spirit in one more paper - and it makes me smile and makes me a better person - it makes me try a little harder at my own hand and it makes me compassionate and aware of all horses who may suffer.

My Christmas wish for the Jacksons - Barbaro’s recovery to a happy and pasture sound life for many years to come, the passage of the slaughter bill in the near future

My Christmas wish for Michael and Peter - Another Barbaro one day that they can prepare as they did him for Triple Crown glory

My Christmas wish for Dr. Dean - Continued courage, skill and resources to save other animals as he has Barbaro - And never to lose the tear in his eye as he talks about his attachments to his patients - I know his patients sense this

My Christmas wish for Alex - It has come true - He gets to be with Barbaro on a very special day - His devotion to Barbaro and us has been unwaivering and for this I am very grateful. May Barbaro stay in your life in some way for years to come

My Christmas wish for Barbaro - I think Barbaro is incredibly smart and I think he must connect very very well with humans - that seems to be a huge part of his recovery. I worried that Barbaro would be depressed if Michael and Peter stopped coming and that does not appear to be the case. My Christmas wish for Barbaro - besides grow hoof grow, will be a pain free life, on a farm with lots of people around him. I hope he feels that he has a purpose in life and is groomed and bathed and fussed over every day. I believe his amazing spirit and his will to live needs a mirror - his people - they haven’t let him down yet and I don’t think they ever will.

All the Best,

Sara

[VirginiaBred]

Update 1231: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). Mrs. Jackson just called after her morning visit with Barbaro.
update 9:00 am, sunday, december 24 ~ thanks, alex

[merrygoround]

SKP’s post

Well and beautifully said!!!

Timtam, thanks for a cheerful and timely post. :), in view of the righteously negative posts :(that cluttter the screen.

Galloping good holidays to you all. :lol:

[VirginiaBred]

Here’s a Possibility!

HORSE RACING : Barbaro could fit in just fine at Walmac

NUREYEV BARN WOULD MEET HORSE’S NEEDS
By Maryjean Wall (HERALD-LEADER RACING WRITER)

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/horse_racing/16304848.htm

[B]Definitely worth a read.

[/B]Here is the farm website: http://www.walmac.com/

[J_Turner]

I found a book with the painting the Jackson’s named Barbaro after … I think I remember saying the paiting was acutally a print - the one they (or one of their parents had). It is in a book called “Best in Show”:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Show-Dog-Renaissance-Today/dp/0300115881/sr=1-1/qid=1166992535/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-1984989-8460447?ie=UTF8&s=books

It is on p. 116. It’s actual title is “Barbaro” after the Hunt. The dog is actually pretty homely looking. The original painting is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was painting by Rosa Bonheur, late 19th century.

Just thought I’d share.

It’s a beautiful book overall, worth having in the home if you’re a dog lover.

[tma]

Yep, Barbaro’s leg is not unlike what our neighbor’s horse’s leg looked like post-cast (also in a cast for six months). He had a similar injury to Barbaro’s (the P-1 in the LH was in 9+ pieces, fetlock was dislocated, etc) and he also underwent surgery and had plates and screws (and an “external device” while everything was mending).

Matter of fact, the muscles/tendons/ligaments were so lax once the final cast was removed that this horse was literally walking on the back and side of his pastern, his fetlock, and the heel of the “hoof” to begin with. A special shoe was designed for him - it had vertical bars on each heel, with a “sling” of sorts between them to support under the fetlock and pastern and keep them off the ground while not completely supporting him. With time and rehab, the normal support system in the leg began to take over again, and eventually this horse was able to wean off of the “sling”.

In addition, having been non-weight bearing for so long, the hoof had also atrophied to the point where it was a fraction of it’s normal structure. This horse was also walking on the heel and outside edge of what hoof he did have. Again, once he was bearing weight on the leg/hoof, and with time, the new hoof wall growing out expanded as it grew down…and while it’s not a completely “normal” looking hoof, it is much more normal looking than it was initially.

This horse now gets around well. He will never return to any type of “performance” beyond turnout and maybe the occasional “pony ride”, but you can see that he has adapted and is enjoying life.

[ivy62]

Hey Guys…I just got back from Vacation and have missed alot I see…I missed the video can someone tell me how I can find it? I wish they would post some pics of the laminitic foot also…that is more concern and interest at this time i would assume…Laminitis is an awful disease and the more research they do the better the next horse will be be…

JINGLE BELLS in NY! Happy Holidays

[I_m_EBO]

Merry Christmas–or other winter holiday–to all, especially Barbaro.

[bhrunner06]

what is the update about when Barbaro can go home?
and Merry Christmas to all!