Does this mean Barbaro asks to use the sling? If so, is this normal or are we dealing with super patient? I mean, we are dealing with super patient, obviously, but is Barbaro so smart that he knows the sling is a good thing for him and asks his people to help him in and out of it?
Either way, this horse impresses me so. I hope he one day does get to be a daddy. It will be interesting to see if they get Dad’s heart, courage, brains and smashing good looks :winkgrin:.
Horses are lazy - I know many who would rather be in a sling than actually have to hold themselves up.
I, too thought it was amazing. He is SO smart!!!
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update1-16.htm
Barbaro stable and comfortable following setback
January 16, 2007
KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is stable and comfortable following the latest setback. “Barbaro’s comfort improved considerably following the procedure on Saturday morning,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. “He has been standing and moving around his stall well enough that sling support has not been added since. His appetite has improved and his vital signs are stable. Overall, we are pleased with his progress following the setback to his left hind foot.”
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center.
The next update will be posted on Thursday, January 18, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
[QUOTE=baywithchrome2;2144973]
Does this mean Barbaro asks to use the sling? If so, is this normal or are we dealing with super patient? I mean, we are dealing with super patient, obviously, but is Barbaro so smart that he knows the sling is a good thing for him and asks his people to help him in and out of it?
Either way, this horse impresses me so. I hope he one day does get to be a daddy. It will be interesting to see if they get Dad’s heart, courage, brains and smashing good looks :winkgrin:.[/QUOTE]
That too was my question.
Glad to know I’m not the only one who read it as Barbaro asking to use the sling! What an incredible beastie…man-oh-man.
I take it as a VERY positive sign that we’ll not be getting another update until Thursday. So wonderful! Geesh, it’s been tough waiting to be this relieved!
[QUOTE=HungLikeAStallion;2144994]
Horses are lazy - I know many who would rather be in a sling than actually have to hold themselves up.[/QUOTE]
Well then they’ve obviously never been in a sling! :lol:
The sling is rough on horses, and I mean rough. Barbaro tolerates it EXTREMELY well… and he’s intelligent enough to learn how to use it correct. Horses have to learn to “sit” in the sling for it to be of any benefit to them… they don’t just hang there! (forget everything you saw in “Dreamer” haha!) Plus he’s smart enough to lay down when he’s not in it, so he gets adequate time out of it to recover. Barbaro’s had quite a few neighbors using a sling as well, and, er, none of them are here to tell their tale, if you know what I mean…
In all my time at NBC, Barbaro is one of only a handful (and a small handful, at that) of horses I encountered that spent extensive time in a sling and walked out of the hospital. And he hasn’t been discharged yet…
The reason I’m sharing all this is only to enlighten everyone on how truly resourceful and determined the big man really is!
Asking for the sling
I believe when Barbaro was using the sling back in July there were comments that he would indicate when he wanted the extra support. Look back at the updates from that time period and I’m sure you’ll see comments about it.
I remember the same sling situation as monsterpony. He would let them know, somehow, when he wanted his sling.
I’m sure you’ve all noticed how a horse will look at the thing he wants, so maybe that’s how he told his attendants. Or sometimes, I swear that my own horses are using some equine version of the Vulcan Mind Meld (they’re all trekkies) to clue me about something they want, or that I’ve failed to do.
Barbaro Cultist
Thanks Alex~
Update 1338: Dr. Kathy Anderson visited Barbaro late this afternoon. She was visiting during Mrs. Jackson’s second visit for the day. Barbaro was eating his grass during the visit. Kathy said Barbaro was bright-eyed and appeared comfortable. She was happy. The last time she visited was saturday after his procedure when he appeared “tired” (update 1324), she noticed improvement during today’s visit.
LOVES IT!!! 
Glad to hear all the good news. My neighbor went down to Rood and Riddle today to pick up her horse. Unfortunately I missed my chance to go with her and meet Dr. Morrison, but she does feel special to have someone so important working on her horse (he too has laminitis, treatment ongoing). She says he is super smart, and very modest and her horse loves him.
Texarkana - my comment was not serious but that you for your insight. I have yet to see a horse in a sling.
He ASKS to use the sling. He started asking for it when he first got laminitis. Apparently he walks over to it to indicate that he needs some help standing. I thought that was amazing. That’s when he learned to “boing” while in it. He bounced like a little kid in a jumper. Nobody said anything about bouncing this time. Although, I don’t think he’s used it a lot this time. It’s just there if he wants it.
Smart? Probably TOO smart. :lol: I have to wonder how many horses are equally smart and just not allowed to express it. That is a very sad thought.
And thanks, VB, for all your hard work. You are a very faithful person. Of course, Bobby is doing all the hard work. What a guy!
Barbaro and the sling
I don’t think people give horses enough credit for being smart:no:
They are very intelegent animals:yes: It’s people that have to learn how to understand what their horses are telling them. Like top horseman and trainer Tom Dorrence once said “I wish I could put an ounce of human into a horse and a gallon of horse into a human”. boy what a wonderful world that would be.
Any way you go Barbaro… :winkgrin:
Sorry if this is old news, but it has been announced that “Team Barbaro” will receive a special Eclipse Award.
Thank you VB!
Here’s a link to an interesting and, from my perspective unbiased and well written piece on the public’s adoration of Barbaro and what the writer suspects is the inevitable:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16658501/
I am hopeful and prayerful that B’s courage will sustain him and his caretaker’s skill and care will prevail in helping him continue his recovery.
This morning I learned of a friend’s hard decision to let her horse go after suffering the dreaded laminitis long enough. With no reasonable options left she will let him go this week. These decisions are so hard and so personal…I absolutely refuse to begin second guessing the Jackson’s or anyone else involved with Barbaro’s daily care and needs, nor will I begin to doubt my belief in miracles.
This horse in particular. grin I’ve said it so often that people think I’m crazy, but in just a few hours of observation I walked away thinking Barbaro was probably the most eerily intelligent and professional horse I’ve ever seen.
Wednesday Morning ~
The Barbaro update will be later today.
[QUOTE=caffeinated;2146715]
This horse in particular. grin I’ve said it so often that people think I’m crazy, but in just a few hours of observation I walked away thinking Barbaro was probably the most eerily intelligent and professional horse I’ve ever seen.
:)[/QUOTE]
Coming from the owner of a similarly bred (albeit much older!) TB, HECK YES, it’s completely consistent with the horse’s personality to ask for (if not DEMAND) what he wants/needs. These guys are preternaturally bright. I think most of y’all know the story about Avery jumping out of his pasture, unlatching the back barn door, turning the ceiling fans on, opening a nice clean stall, going in, CLOSING the stall door, and lying down for a nap under the ceiling fans!
When Avery was in hydrotherapy he used to nearly DRAG me to the swimming pool. He also throws his halter at you when he wants to go out and thinks you’re dawdling. Back when we were messing with therapeutic shoeing, if the new shoes were making him uncomfortable, Avery would simply lie down in his stall and use his back toes to wiggle the shoes off his fronts. 
I’ve got one vet who, when not sure what approach to try next with Avery’s RF, will more than semi-seriously ask me "What does Avery think?’ He always says it laughing, and admits he’d never ask that question to ANY other client, but we’ve all learned over the years to take Avery’s opinions very seriously indeed.
So yeah, Barbaro asking for the sling doesn’t surprise me one bit. That’s what these guys are like. :yes:
Hang in there, Barbaro.
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