:no: :no: :no: :no: :no: :no:
Hopefully the press and public can let them have the peace they need right now. My husband and I watched the update on espn (thanks vb) and my husband asked why they hadn’t put him down yet. I told him that had Barbaro at any time, himself, given up or given in, not cooperated and had the will to live, they would have. But how do you stop trying to help a horse that has done everything HE can to keep fighting?
I think it would be nice that during this very uncertain time in regards to Barbaro’s future, we all stop with the bickering, negative opinions, and just hope for the best (leaving private thoughts of what should have been done or should not have been done) to themselves.
Having gone through a horrible illness with my own horse, and having it end sadly, I just hate to think of how all of those people who have been by Barbaro’s side, from vets, caretakers, owners, and just fans, my thoughts are with you all. And to Barbaro, you are an amazing fighter-the true heart of a thoroughbred!
off to wipe the tears from my eyes and light some candles…
Thank you again VB for the updates.
What sad news. I never agreed with trying to save him to live as an invalid but I was pulling for him nonetheless that somehow he would make it and live a semi normal life. I hope that he can rebound but if not, I hope they do not wait too long to make the humane choice.
how sad for everyone involved- esp Barbaro- it is sad anyway you look at it.
okay, now I’ve finished reading all the posts…
What gets me is that it sounds like this is a last-ditch effort. I completely agree with “hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” Not that I like it.
VB, I have special thoughts for you today. You already work so hard for us to keep us all updated. Today must be killing you with the stress and worry! You are greatly appreciated…don’t ever doubt that!
Off to light more candles, jingle my curb chain a bit more, and say some prayers.
I’ve just been to the K-9 Kart website. They’ve been in business for 40 something years, and have designed carts for miniature horses. If one could be made for Barbaro, they would be the people to do it. I guess that size might be the true limiting factor for cart use.
What I don’t see is how a properly designed cart wouldn’t load the front legs and hind equally if the wheels are the right size. 
from Associated Press:
http://www.adelphia.net/news/read.php?id=13415438&ps=1013&cat=&cps=0&lang=en
"Barbaro had two steel pins placed in a bone in his right hind leg, a risky surgery that’s the latest setback in the Kentucky Derby winner’s fight for survival.
“I’m upset, worried, not sleeping well,” chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson said Sunday in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “A lot of people are very, very committed and spent a huge amount of emotional sources on this horse. So it’s very upsetting when things go badly.”
The surgery was performed Saturday, after Barbaro developed a “deep abscess” in the right hind foot last week. The abscess could not be treated without removing a recently applied cast, which was replaced with a protective brace “in order to provide the foot with a chance to heal.”
Richardson said in a statement issued Sunday by the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., that the pins were placed transversely through his right hind cannon bone - one of the three bones healed after being shattered eight months ago in the Preakness.
He said the pins are connected to “external sidebars that in turn are connected to a lightweight alloy foot plate.” This results, Richardson said, “in the horse eliminating all weight bearing from the foot. The horse’s weight is borne through the pins across his cannon bone.”
If the bone were to break again, Richardson said: “I think we’ll quit.”
After months of improvement, Barbaro has endured several setbacks the past three weeks. This one could be the most critical, since other problems could arise.
With the back legs hurting, Barbaro’s front feet likely will bear more weight, making them susceptible to laminitis, the often fatal hoof disease the colt has had in his left rear since July.
“It’s something that we are watching closely,” Richardson said, “and that could also be a thing that could lead to us quitting.”
Allowing the pins across the cannon bone to bear weight carries “significant risk,” but Richardson said “we believed it was our only option given the worsening of the right hind foot problem. Unfortunately, we felt we needed to take this risk because this approach offered our only hope of keeping Barbaro acceptably comfortable.”
When laminitis was discovered in his left hind foot in July, Richardson had to remove 80 percent of the hoof. Other issues have followed. Earlier this month, Barbaro had his first “significant setback” with Richardson removing damaged tissue from the colt’s left hind leg.
In his statement Sunday, Richardson said: “We will continue to treat Barbaro aggressively as long as he remains bright, alert and eating. This is another significant setback that exemplifies how complex his medical situation remains because both hind limbs have major problems.”
Richardson further explained that Barbaro had been uncomfortable on his right hind foot because of the development of a "deep subsolar abscess secondary to bruising when he went through a period of discomfort on the left hind foot.
“It is not laminitis, but the undermining of the sole and part of the lateral heel region are potentially just as serious,” Richardson said. “We attempted to manage the right hind foot in a cast and then in a custom fabricated brace, but it was impossible to have access to the foot for treatment as well as acceptable stability and comfort.”
On Saturday, owner Gretchen Jackson told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Barbaro was again facing tough odds.
“He’s got a lot of issues, and not any of them is bad enough to say goodbye. But put together it’s not a good day for Barbaro,” Jackson said.
For some reason this is scaring me worse than some of the other things that have happened. I really hope he can pull through this. He’s been through so much already. I’m sad he’s having setbacks after doing so well for so long…
I hope he doesn’t become too uncomfortable to take it anymore. This last post has me worried. 
Prayers here … I think this is the grimmest things have looked since Preakness day.
This is just so sad for Barbaro and everyone he has touched.
Thanks for everything VB.
It ain’t over til it’s over, though, so keep heart, and remember that a “last resort” is often the successful resort.
I think it’s very kind of those involved to choose their words in a way that will have prepared us for the worst, if indeed God forbid the worst happens. That is very kind of them to us in the midst of worries and hurt that when all’s said and done is entirely theirs and not any of our business. Everyone directly involved has been a class act throughout.
That being said, there’s not an iota of doubt in my mind that the owners, trainer, and doctors have ALWAYS done what’s best for the horse. ALWAYS.
And gee, all along the information has been that the owners would euthanize when the horse is clearly uncomfortable. So…why aren’t they doing it?
Yes, absolutely. This has totally crossed the line at this point. Stringing the horse along further and further is inhumane. Put the horse to rest and free him from this prision and pain he lives in. :no:
[QUOTE=Two Simple;2174985]
And gee, all along the information has been that the owners would euthanize when the horse is clearly uncomfortable. So…why aren’t they doing it?[/QUOTE]
Every horse in the hospital has a certain level of discomfort - but the majority of them are tolerable, I am sure when his becomes untolerable they will respond.
I think Barbaro will tell them very soon what his decision is. I’m still praying that he fights the good fight. But, I’m with Classic Melody. I just have a bad feeling. Going to light more candles to give Team Barbaro strength in this tremendous time of difficulty.
[QUOTE=Two Simple;2174985]
And gee, all along the information has been that the owners would euthanize when the horse is clearly uncomfortable. So…why aren’t they doing it?[/QUOTE]
I am sure that everyone is waiting for Barbaro to say - OK guys I’ve had enough - AND HE WILL when he has had enough. Anyone who has had to deal with a sick animal knows - they let you know. Prayers for all involved.
[QUOTE=Two Simple;2174985]
And gee, all along the information has been that the owners would euthanize when the horse is clearly uncomfortable. So…why aren’t they doing it?[/QUOTE]
Horse Care 101, TS. Horse is uncomfortable. You try to fix it.
When you can’t fix it any more or when the horse stops trying, then you let him go.
You can’t understand this.
Well, some can. Do you HONESTLY think that his owners and doctors are looking at him and not weighing this option from Day 1? You’re wrong.
Also, there is a difference between manageable and unmanageable pain. I rode a jumper with a weak stifle. We were able to manage his pain. When we couldn’t anymore, he was retired from jumping and very happily became a trail horse.
Still praying…
From Sports Illustrated:
“It’s something that we are watching closely, and that could also be a thing that could lead to us quitting,” Richardson said.
The colt was doing well Sunday, according to Richardson, and “we will continue to treat Barbaro aggressively as long as he remains bright, alert and eating,” he said in Sunday’s update sent out by the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.
Based on Richardson’s advice, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson have been making the decisions concerning Barbaro. Their major concern from the start has been to keep Barbaro comfortable.
“No one is interested in putting the horse through any type of misery,” Richardson said. "We’re going to treat him the best way we can as long as he stays comfortable. And we’re going to stick with that no matter if his chances are 1 percent or 90 percent.
“If he gets to the point where we just don’t think it’s reasonable to go on, we will not go on.”
I know that some on this list think the above is all lies.
I don’t.
