Oh my I’m sending my prayers to all involved. Having dealt directly with founder with certainly none of Barbaro’s other complications I know the decisions are tough and heartbreaking. I have no doubt they will do what is best as we all know the signs that we need to look for when the need arises to let them go. I am also certain they are looking down the rode for quality of life…not just “a life” in Barbaro’s case…this is truly sad. No decisions are easy I’m sure.
Really. You don’t know enough to say.
Jeannine Edwards’ detailed post-press-conference report is now online at ESPN, you can view it here.
Geesh! I came over here looking for an update like I usually do a couple times a day (usually without comment) and find this!
How 'bout you guys take the sniping, comments about care, and handwringing someplace else, and let this go back to being a thread for updates?!
Sorry, Pawsplus - I have to disagree. I haven’t the fraction of money and resources available to Barbaro, but I fought for 10 months to keep my guy alive due to complications from splint bone surgery. Subluxated his hock coming out of the anesthesia. Lots of rehab and $$$ (no insurance) then 8 months later he breaks the end of his coffin bone off and develops a massive infection. Whole leg swells, coronary band blows and hoof separates. My vet sends radiographs to her two favorite vets at Texas A&M, who both respond “why in the &%#@ have you not put this horse down”. My vet replies “Cuz HE’S not ready to go”. I talk to the vet at A&M who tells me that he’s not optimistic, but he’ll see him if I bring him up. A&M vet sees him for about 5 minutes and says “his guy deserves a chance”. And they remove bone chips out his hoof sole and put him on massive antibiotics. The point is - you had to SEE THE HORSE in order to make that determination. We should not be making assumptions about what should happen with Barbaro, because we’re not there with him.
Eventually the infection returned with my guy and the bone kept disintegrating and he did have to be put down. But as painful as the very long ordeal was for me, my heart’s clear as I know I did everything humanely possible for him. We should be applauding all those everyone involved in the efforts to save this wonderful horse - not second guessing when we’re not there to see him and don’t have all the facts.
Hang in there Bobby. If any horse can beat the odds - you can. Prayers and jingles from Texas.
This guy has more fight in him than most. I know that they will try to save him so long as he wants saving.
And it sure likes he still wants to give it a go.
Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle.
First a big thank you for the continued updates…I can speak to some of this personally, as I lost a mare to a fracture…Unless you have been there, you dont know how it is…(Paws Plus take notice here)…the agony of the decisions you have to make…the second guessing you do to yourself, as well as all the “well meaning” people who offer you unknowledgeable and unsolicited “opinions”…My mare was worth nothing except to me and I was willing to spend what I had and then some if only to so she could have come home and been a pasture pet…it unfortunately did not work out for my mare and I…I know the people at New Bolton well, and let me assure you that they would not let that horse suffer needlessly…they are great at pain management, and would not just continue to treat the horse to get more dollars…Mrs Jackson I know in passing from her work at TCA…and her concern is the welfare of all horses, not just her own…and I firmly believe that even if Bobby could survive and be comfortable, and not be bred, she would geld him and bring him home…Dr. Richardson is a man with a huge heart, not just talent, and Michael Matz is one of the most decent human beings I have ever met…so shame on the people here who are not vets, have never been faced with these types of decisions, and are using this thread, which has been so helpful to all of us in getting solid medical info on the horse as an area to bash the people who are trying their very best to give this horse the best possible chance at a recovery that will allow him to live pain free in what ever capacity he is capable of…I still have not gotten over the death of my mare …it left a hole in my heart that will never be filled and I doubt if it will be for the Jacksons either…thats my rant for the day…thanks for listening
e said the prognosis for survival is ``poor.’’
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601089&refer=home&sid=aD.jKIme2MNoPrognosis
Here’s a quote from Edgar Prado.
“I am a horse lover more than anything else,” Prado continued. “I care about all of the horses, but you build that relationship with someone, get more attached with some horses, and of course this one brought me the biggest thrill of my life. And he had all of the right tools to become a champion. Not only for me, but he could have showed the whole race industry what kind of horse he was. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to that point.”
Actually, Barbaro has shown the entire world what kind of horse he is through this terrible situation…a champion that refuses to quit.
Bravo chawley. That is the best thing I’ve heard all day, and absolutely true.
Truer words were never spoken Chawley. To all those who are second guessing the care/treatment of this magnificent animal you have obviously not ever seen a horse who WANTS to fight to live. You can’t force a horse to eat, walk around, etc. Barbaro obviously hasn’t given up on himself and WANTS to fight…bravo to the Jacksons for giving him every possible chance to do that. Many horses would have given up after the initial surgery when he surprised the world. Here’s hoping he continues to surprise us with his heart of a champion.
Fight on Barbaro!
I, along with most others on the board applaud the heroic measures that have been taken for Barbaro. And if I was in the same financial position, I too, would do everything in my power to save his or my own horses life. So kudos to his owners, trainers, surgeons and his medical team for hanging in there.
If Bobby is alert, has a healthy appetite, pricked ears and offers a welcoming nicker anytime someone enters his stall - he’s not done yet. When and if his time is up, HE will be the one to tell Dr. Richardson - and the decision will be made.
Until then, were these pages and hundreds and hundreds of posts all for nothing? No. They were and still are to show support for a fabulous, courageous racehorse. Don’t stop now, when he needs us most.
Jingles Barbaro, you’re much loved.
jingles
Jingles to a great champion.
Do you honestly think I haven’t been there? Of course I have. That is why I am saying what I’m saying. It SUCKS, it absolutely does, and I have had to make that choice for animals I loved more than my own life. I have never truly recovered from any of them. I also worked for years for a vet. Don’t presume to know me.
Look, it is just MY opinion that they should go on and do it. I’m not saying it has to be everyone’s opinion. Everyone gets theirs, and that’s mine. But it’s certainly not b/c I have no experience in this area. Sheesh.
a sugestion, jingling, and prayers the criticalmass?
May I make a suggestion? Intend to offend no one with my a suggestion jingling, and prayers ;
I know we are Ali jingling like crazy, and, :yes: will continue-to do so; let’s expand our circle of caring beings abit;) , and ask if wherever you Will be this weekend to worship at church-temple whereveyou and others are gathered together, that we all pray for Barbaro, that he be spared from-pain,:yes: and that the good people at /new Bolton, and, everyone on his"team" be strengthened in-their care giving, and,any decision making they must do and while we ,too would love to him happy,sound, and frolicking in a paddock, that we accept what is best for him, and understand it it as such I say this as someone who still 5 years later says “if only” , and would love to “:turn back the clock” Perhaps if we all pray this weekend we will reach the :“critical mass” necessary for a “quantum shift” , I am getting dangerously far out in areas out in areas I know little to nothing about (quantum physics) :eek: ( Let’s do our part with prayers, and jingles, :yes: and let God do his, remember Christ was the healer.as well as the Good Shepherd
Nicely said Shay Darra and I am sorry for your loss. You clearly have represented that every horse must be viewed on an individual basis.
Dr. Richardson said in the news conference that this wasn’t a Terri Schiavo case. I doubt very much that Barbaro is “hopped up” on pain killers. Ideally the pain in both of his hind feet is now pretty equal and he will use them more equally. It is a pretty dicey situation but I haven’t thrown in the towel yet. Moreover, I am not going to second guess the team or how Barbaro deals with this. Horses and other animals experience pain very differently than we do. I suspect if they can keep him eating and his temp normal that he can make it.
I also suspect that Richardson is very tired and emotional – aka human. (Thank GOD!!! A human surgeon!!! It is a rarity, at least for all the surgeons I have had working on me. One tear from me and they would run out of the room as fast as they could.) Those guys are making the best decisions they can under the circumstances. My goodness, what more can you ask for? And frankly if some science comes out of this, all the better as far as I am concerned.
More jingles before I head home…time to dig out my Aiden curb chain for some serious jingling.
Kick on Bobby!
Flamesuit on… pawsplus… I truly believe a horse’s eye will tell you everything. It sounded like Dr. Richardson, the Jackson and Michael Matz are taking that into account along with all of the medical information (objective and subjective) they have at their disposal. Unless they are lying to us, everything they are saying sounds like Barbaro is fighting to live. I’m as jaded and as cynical as they come, but give him the chance that he seems to be asking for… it sounds like people that know him best will make the right decision for him. JMHO.
Add my jingles for a horse who says he is not ready to go just yet…
Go Barbaro, Go!
