ASB - I thought the same thing. I feel terrible for Dr. Richardson and his team… they are putting so much time, energy and emotion into Barbaro. This must be gut-wrenching.
Come on Barbaro… keep fighting… please don’t give up. 
I am sending my co-workers, who know little about horses but have expressed interest, to this web site. Pretty much explains things with diagrams
http://www.laminitisresearch.org/chrispollitt_whatislaminitis.htm
thank you!!! for the link to the philly station!!! I was able to watch the whole thing at work and managed NOT to cry in front of my boss. How devastating. But we all know as horse people that the horse will let you know when its time… lets hope barbaro keeps telling us its not time yet…Again why the hell arent we breeding more magnificant animals like this with with the character to keep on fighting and not fight the help they are trying to give him. Sure does seem tough at this point with two injured hind legs. poor poor guy. If only his body would heal…ugh. I dont know how much I can stand this the next few days!! I have never been so drawn into a horses story. I love richardson’s dealing with the media. You got to give it to that man for being who he is and having to deal with all of this media coverage on TOP of having to take care of many critically ill horses. No one can say they didnt fight for this horse…I just really hope we get our happy ending.
From Bloodhorse.com:
Laminitis Strikes Barbaro; Survival Chances Called ‘Poor’
Date Posted: 7/13/2006 11:13:52 AM
Last Updated: 7/13/2006 11:28:35 AM
Classic winner Barbaro has developed a severe case of laminitis in his left hind foot, according to Dr. Dean Richardson of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where surgery was conducted May 21 to repair multiple fractures in his right hind ankle.
Richardson said Thursday that Barbaro’s chances of surviving this much-feared complication were “poor.”
“It’s as bad a case of laminitis as you can have,” said Richardson, who said a hoof-wall re-section has been necessitated by the fact only 20% of his hoof wall is connected to the coffin bone.
The disclosure was made during an 11 a.m. news conference Thursday morning at New Bolton in Kennett Square, Pa.
More details will follow. Read More About Laminitis
This is not good news. It really brings tears to my eyes…
Valentine and I are sending prayers, positive thoughts and lots of jingles (as we have been all along) to Barbaro, the vets, the owners, Michael Matz. No matter how sad it is, think positive…
I’m wishing for whatever outcome is best for Barbaro.
~Sneekers~
Dr. Richardson
I thought he was going to break down as well particularly the way he rushed out of there after making that statement. I read on the Dartmouth College website about how he came to be an equine vet. He had exhausted his options for PE classes while a student at Dartmouth so he decided to take the Equestrian class. Apparently he fell in love with horses and riding immediately, spent the rest of his time at Dartmouth helping take care of horses, and decided to be a vet.
I am not privvy to any more information than what we have heard here. That said, I think that he and the Jacksons and Micheal Matz have not yet made a decision that I wouldn’t have made (if I could afford it) and they are certainly basing the decision on whether or not to continue exactly as I would. God will let them know if Barbaro can’t go on. Barbaro is very fortunate to have this team of people supporting him.
I am hoping that this is his true test and he will pass it like every other one he has faced.
I think the one thing that as horse lovers and Barbaro fans we all need to be grateful for at this point is that, as this goes on, it becomes more and more obvious that Barbaro is in the very best hands he could possibly be in. His owners, trainers and the vet staff CLEARLY have the horse’s best interest at heart. And since he’s in a top-notch clinical situation, they have so many more options available to them for treatment and comfort than many of us have been able to manage for our beloved beasties.
Dr. Richardson said Barbaro is still nickering when you walk in, still wants his food, is maintaining his weight. These are all GOOD signs. We just have to keep praying and jingling.
Again, From Tim at NBC:
Update 220: The focus of the press conference was the new, significant problem of laminitis in the left hind foot. No doubt this will be widely covered by all the media. Barbaro’s current state is extremely serious however, he does remain comfortable. They will continue to work around the clock to try to overcome this setback as long as he remains comfortable. One issue that Dr. Richardson emphasized was that the Jacksons will not tolerate any discomfort for Barbaro. More to come later.
Updated Thursday 11:30am
Update 219: Jeannine Edwards will be broadcasting directly after the conference on ESPN 2 on a show that I think is called “Cold Pizza.” She’ll also be on ESPN news after that (not sure what time) and then SportsCenter at 6pm tonight. I would estimate about 70-80 people (writers, TV people etc etc) here at the conference awaiting Dr. Dean Richardson. Should be very soon.
We dealt with laminitis/founder for years with one very, very special horse. He developed it in all four feet after a high fever virus , coffin bone rotated in 3 feet and and recovered somewhat after a year of treatment. It is incredibly painful - described to us as if we were wearing shoes 4 sizes too small and standing all day. Eventually when he began his fourth bout in one foot after being as sound as he could be for a year, we made the decision to put him down. He wasn’t ready and hadn’t remotely told us it was time, but we didn’t want him to go thorugh anymore. I mourn his loss every single day.
I truly believe everyone will do the right thing for Barbaro and listen to him throughout this ordeal.
I am just sick with sadness. I will jingle for YoYo to speak with Bobby from across the bridge and encourage him to keep on keepin on.
i am afraid to really read the updates because I’m at work.
The hardest thing to me is that Barbaro could so easily be any of our horses - maybe not in the fact that he won the Derby (among other things!)… but how many of us have known and loved a bay gelding with a big personality? A Thoroughbred of any color, size, or shape, who reminds us that we are only borrowing their strength and grace? A horse of any description who amazes us with their character and humanity?
Maybe if we can send all the love we feel and cherish for all our personal Barbaros toward the big guy, it will help him fight a little harder. Jingling like crazy, for sure - for Bobby and everyone that loves him.
I just missed the press conference on line. Is there any way to see it again, or was the live coverage the only option?
Thanks,
SD
Update from ESPN:
75% of his left foot has been removed and he is on intensive pain management.
Well, this is the time for tough decisions all right.
I hope they give the colt enough time and non-intervention to see if he can recover from this major major setback.
NBC 10’s story just goes to show how “off” the media reporting can be despite their best efforts: it focuses on the probs in the RH pastern, rather than the severe laminitis in the LH. As horse people all know, it’s the word “laminitis” and the fact that 80% of the hoof was resectioned that really strike fear into the heart. 
It’s great to know he has sling support, which I’ve not seen reported yet - but Dr. R. said so in the press conference.
Thanks for the link and the updates. It is so sad. :sadsmile:
Come on Bobby give us your best try! We are all jingling for you!:sadsmile:
Jingling like mad for Bobby and for Michael Matz, Dr. Richardson, the Jacksons and the rest of his connections. The biggest consolation I can think of is the fact that this horse clearly has people that have his best interests at heart. No matter what happens, I am confident that they will do what is best for him.
Sorry for the dumb question but…
If the re-section means what I think, which is 75-80% of his good hoof wall has been removed, how is it that he is able to support himself to stand at all? Would that mean that he is basically resting most of his hind weight on his left coffin bone without the support of the hoof wall?
I’m sitting at my desk in tears, blowing my nose. Come on, Bobby!!!
JINGLING LIKE MAD!!!
Sending the most heart-felt jingles I can to Barbaro. This is sad, and scarey! I pray that he can pull through. He has been such an inspiration!
