i have a horse who had a bone infection in her hock, she was given a 10% chance of survival and the vets were urging i put her down but she kept getting up to her feet and wouldn’t give up, so i gave her every chance, she is alive 10 years later
she is the kind of horse who can have a good day no matter what, very stoic and calm about horrible injuries and pain, she went through alot but never gave up
so they can beat the odds
does anyone know what time the press conference is tomorrow?
VB, THANK YOU for these updates – having a site with real information is such a wonderful service, and much appreciated.
My jingles and healing thoughts go to Barbaro, and my wishes for comfort go to his human family – all who are caring for and who care about a wonderful and fragile life.
Personally, I’m hoping Barbaro is the equine Lance Armstrong and goes on to beat the odds to be able to romp and play and breed for many, many years.
Update 215: A new article from the Baltimore Sun, later in the day yesterday (10:34 pm): Derby winner Barbaro is ‘facing tough odds’ Infections impede horse’s recovery. Much of the content we are familiar with I think. The Mercury News carries an article that mentions the purpose of today’s press conference: Surgeon says Barbaro’s ‘facing tough odds’ (which I plan to attend), excerpt:
Addressing a rumor that the news conference was to announce that Barbaro would be put down as soon as Thursday night, Gretchen Jackson said that was unfounded.
“No, I guarantee that’s not going to happen unless something goes drastically wrong in the next 24 hours,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday night.
The purpose of the news conference, she said, was for Richardson to give a detailed update on the events of the last week. “It just seems fitting that Dean does the whole thing now.”
Lets hope Bobby has good comfort today and the Press Conference gives us some hope regarding his medical condition.
thank you VAbred for the update. I continue to hope and pray with all my heart.
Gail
[B]Again, my thanks to Tim:
[/B]Update 216: Spoke to Michael Matz this morning (thursday). It appears Bobby is still doing OK given all we know. I asked Michael a little more about the press conference this morning. He won’t be able to attend, but is aware that Dr. Dean Richardson will be very forthcoming with everything that is occuring (no surprise apparently if you know Dean). Michael also mentioned he received a very nice letter, which he gave to Peter (Brette) to give to me, that discussed this site. I’ll look forward to reading it. (Peter could not give it to me since he was on a horse, Michael was on Messaging and I was on one of Tim’s horses, whose “nickname” is also Bobby!) I am planning to attend the press conference.
update thursday, 7:15 am
Thank you VAbred for all the updates. It’s great to be able to get the real story and not rumors. I can’t even imagine what a stressful and difficult time this if for everyone who loves him. Hoping and praying he’ll fight his way through this.
Merthiolate
VABred - I am certainly not an expert bbut want to share something with you that ‘may’ help Bobby.
Two years ago we had a horse that had surgery for a coffin bone infection - it went from bad to worse and nothing would treat the infection. All antibiotics were tried, injected, iv’d and infused. After TEN MONTHS (and what was for us a lot of money) they suggested I put Timmy down. I searched the internet for clues, called every ‘bone’ vet in the US and finally found an old gent in TX who suggested they infuse MERTHIOLATE into the area - NOT the ‘new merthiolate’ but the old one which was taken off the market and contained mercury. He had a few bottles and sent them to us at New England Equine and they initially poo=poo’d the idea. Bottom line, they tried it and three days later Timmy came home. It’s probably hard to get but I am sure the folks at New Bolton can get it compounded - it’s cheap and certainly worth a try. Please pass this mesage on and after they get through laughing maybe they will think about whether it could help.
OH MY! I remember my dad dobbing this stuff all over my brother and I when we were kids – we walked around with orange polka-dots all over us but the stuff worked on anything!
VB, I can’t believe how anxious (in a bad way) I am feeling as I’m waiting for you to update us on the press conference. I’ve been praying as hard for Bobby and Company as I could possibly pray for a member of my own herd/family but the rumors really scare me and pull negativity into many of us.
Without a doubt you are my nomination for COTH poster of the year!
Update due at 11 am Thurs 7/13
From: http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060713/SPORTS/60713011/1002/SPORTS
Barbaro update expected at 11 a.m.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
After reports Wednesday that Kentucky Derby-winner Barbaro was “facing tough odds and his condition is guarded,” his doctor will update his condition again this morning.
Barbaro, who shattered three bones in his right hind leg May 20, has undergone three surgical procedures in the past week. In the most recent one, Saturday, Dr. Dean Richardson replaced the titanium plate and 27 screws and treated two infections – one in the injured leg and a small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof.
The colt’s condition is scheduled to be discussed at a news conference at 11 a.m. today. No one has seriously discussed putting down the horse, with Richardson likely to explain what’s in the immediate future for the strapping colt.
“Our entire staff is determined to do all they can for this magnificent horse,” Richardson said in a statement issued by the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, where he is chief surgeon at the New Bolton Center.
Barbaro won the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, was unbeaten in six races and expected to make a Triple Crown bid before his misstep ended his racing career. He was taken to the New Bolton Center hours after breaking down and underwent five hours of surgery the next day.
At that time, Richardson said the chances of the horse’s survival were 50-50.
Prayers for Barbaro, and all those connected to him.
PetsAlive, I’ve sent your suggestion. One never knows.
Let’s all pray for this wonderful, brave horse.
Thanks for the updates…jingling hard as always!
Will someone please recap the new conference? I don’t think I’ll catch it at work.
Thanks!!!
Associated Press
Barbaro’s Condition Worsens Again
By DAN GELSTON , 07.13.2006, 06:36 AM
No one has given up on Barbaro. Not the owners who visit him daily in his ICU stall. Not the fans who came to wish him well. Certainly not his dedicated vet, who is determined to do everything he can to save the life of the Kentucky Derby winner.
Barbaro will need all the help he can get after a week where every glint of optimism has been dashed by even more disheartening, alarming news.
On Wednesday, “tough odds” was how Dr. Dean Richardson described the 3-year-old’s chances for recovery from the catastrophic injuries suffered in the Preakness. Barbaro, who shattered three bones in his right hind leg May 20, has undergone three surgical procedures in the past week. In the most recent one, Saturday, Richardson replaced the titanium plate and 27 screws and treated two infections - one in the injured leg and a small abscess on the sole of his uninjured left hind hoof.
“Our entire staff is determined to do all they can for this magnificent horse,” Richardson said in a statement issued by the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, where he is chief surgeon at the New Bolton Center.
Still, the doctor didn’t mince words: “He’s facing tough odds, and his condition is guarded.”
The colt’s condition is scheduled to be discussed at a news conference Thursday. No one has seriously discussed putting down the horse, with Richardson likely to explain what’s in the immediate future for the strapping colt.
A major concern centers on the infection in the right rear pastern (ankle) joint - located above the hoof that was shattered into more than 20 pieces. While most of the fractured bones have healed, the joint that connects the long and short pastern bones remains problematic.
Saturday’s surgery lasted three hours, and Richardson replaced the hardware that had been inserted into the leg the day after the Preakness.
Until the recent setbacks, Barbaro’s recovery had been going smoothly. Even on Wednesday, owner Gretchen Jackson cited the good things: “He’s eating, his temperature is normal, his bloodwork is excellent, his pulse rate is good.”
Her husband, Roy, however, conceded the sudden changes in Barbaro’s condition made this a tough week.
“We’ve been concerned all along,” he said. “It’s just one of those things. It’s very difficult to climb the mountain when something like that happened.”
The New Bolton Center was quiet Wednesday, devoid of the fruit and floral deliveries that arrived almost one after the other shortly after the strapping colt first was admitted. There were no visitors tacking their homemade signs expressing prayers and well wishes to the fence that surrounds the sprawling, 650-acre campus. Inside, only a smattering of cards from weeks ago remained.
Still, two fans stopped near the fence Wednesday evening and silently prayed for Barbaro’s healthy recovery.
“It’s slowed down a bit, but we’re still getting notes from time to time,” Roy Jackson said. “We’ve gotten a lot of things from little kids.”
Barbaro won the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, was unbeaten in six races and expected to make a Triple Crown bid before his misstep ended his racing career. He was taken to the New Bolton Center hours after breaking down and underwent five hours of surgery the next day.
At that time, Richardson said the chances of the horse’s survival were 50-50.
AP Racing Writer Richard Rosenblatt in New York contributed to this report.
Thanks for all the updates VABred.
More jingles and prayers being sent his way!!
VirginiaBred, you are wonderful to have kept everyone updated on this guy. Thank you.
Does anyone know if the news conference will be broadcast live anywhere? (ESPN, Horse racing network?) Thanks.
We are all praying for Bobby and his family every day. I know that Dr. Richardson will do everything he can to get him through his. We all have to believe God is watching over him and that this is just a bump in the road. He is such a brave boy and such a fighter. Tons and tons of jingles coming his way all day every day. VA Bred - thank you sooo much for all the updates. I check this site many times daily to see how he is doing. Special horses like him come along very rarely and he just has to be ok.
I think if you live in the Philly area, that NBC 10 may show it live, they have been on top of this since the beginning.
SOMEONE has got to tell us whats going on for those of us without TVs for the press conference…I am so nervous to hear what they have to say!!!
Update 217: OK, off to the Press Conference. Will report back when I am there etc! Wanted to thank Ed Foutaine for his kind mention of this site in the New York Post today. May be I’ll get to thank him in person. Also wanted to note that I saw Bobby’s older half brother this morning, Holy Ground. Emily (Michael Matz exercise rider) was riding him on the track. He is a four year old stakes winner I think. It seems many have interest in his younger siblings but are less aware of the oldest half brother.
Here’s NBC 10’s main page - looks to me as if they will probably have video AFTER the press conference. Hope so anyway.
