Could someone give me the name of the trf fund drive? There are several mentioned on the website, and I’d like to donate to the one with matching funds by the Murell people.
Thanks.
Yeahbut, no news is really good news. At about 6:30am there was a one-liner to the effect that the Big Horse had a quiet, restful night. That’s what we wish for–about 100 of those bulletins laid end-to-end. At that point, the “bad” right foot should be healed enough that the “good” left foot is the worst problem. He won’t be out of the woods by then, but the trees will be MUCH smaller.
Update 275: Just spoke to Peter Brette, who was just leaving New Bolton after his visit with Barbaro (2:45 pm). He said Bobby looked fine, was standing all square and certainly not in distress. He appears to be maintaining his comfort level. We know this is (hopefully) going to be a long road ahead, and this is all we can hope for at this stage.
Sabina Pierce left a comment (5:35 PM) which I include here:
I just thought I’d let you know I was asked to go NBC10 in Philadelphia’s 10! show Thursday at 10 am to speak about my photographs of barbaro at NBC.
You can see Sabina’s work at her site: Sabina Louis Pierce–Photojournalist. For those in the Philadelphia area, I hope you get a chance to tune in. Lets hope they put the content on their site.
Well, now I’m crying again…that was beautiful! Thanks, eggbut
relit my candle…#1173 in 14 countries.
No news is good news…
Update 276: New Bolton’s Update: Barbaro’s condition unchanged confirms what we have heard today:
Chief of Surgery Dean Richardson reports that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro remains in stable condition with good vital signs today. “Barbaro spends several hours a day in a sling, which he has adapted to very well,” said Dr. Richardson.
Slings, which were originally designed for rescuing horses, are now common in the treatment of horses with conditions that include neurological problems or muscular skeletal injuries. They have been in use for many years for long-term management of a horse’s movement. “We have a lot of experience in using slings for equine support,” said Dr. Richardson. “In Barbaro’s case, it is a part-time aid that we use to increase his comfort level.”
Sports Illustrated is running a story: Natural treasure Barbaro’s grace and fighting spirit has touched us all that tries to explain our passion for Bobby (we have seen similar articles lately I think, but they are great nonetheless), an excerpt:
But maybe that’s the point. Barbaro isn’t human, so he exhibits none of the human failings that disappoint us in our athletes and coaches. He never put his hoof in his mouth like Ozzie Guillen, or fell in love with himself like Terrell Owens. He never held out for more money, stiffed us for an autograph, tangled with the authorities or coasted when he should have been playing hard. In fact, he gave all of himself, competing
From that wonderful article Alex mentioned in the above post: (SI.com)
But mostly it is because we know that Barbaro deserved better than this. Competitors who perform so valiantly and so well are supposed to be rewarded, not saddled with life-threatening injury. If there was ever an athlete who had earned a better fate, it is Barbaro. Despite the current optimism from the medical team treating him, there is still no guarantee that this will end well for him.
So don’t think you’re odd for caring this much about a horse, or for crossing your fingers or saying a little prayer the next time he crosses your mind. Like a horse in full gallop, his mane flying in the wind, it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Group barba has 1,209 candles from 14 countries!
Continued thanks to Alex & Tim~
Update 277: Kathy Anderson just called. She is running late (she has a couple more horses to see before she can get to NBC) but wanted me to know that Dr. Scott Palmer visited Bobby today. He is a vet from New Jersey Equine and had not seen Barbaro since the Preakness. Kathy said that Dr. Palmer was pleased with Bobby, he felt he was bright and comfortable.
Bernie, from Kennett Florist left this comment:
Alie, Steve, and I just got back from NBC and spoke with Dr. Sweeney, the nursing & office staff and the mood there was really happy. He’s doing well and they REALLY appreciates the goodie baskets and chocolates and cookies. They told us that Bobby LOVES the carrots & horsey treats. Dr. Sweeney said to us as she was holding the door for us, “He’s having another good day.”
Could some of you with more info about or knowledge of Barbaro’s potential future soundness read this passage and tell me if it sounds accurate to me? It was copied from Barbaro’s Wikipedia entry and it seems to make a rather large presumption (that Barbaro will be able to cover a great many mares when he recovers) and also to cast a critical eye on the Jacksons’ motives.
"Future value
If Barbaro recovers, the injury should not prevent him from breeding, and his value as a stud will probably be very high, provided the injury itself is not traced to a heritable predisposition.[11] Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson have all the possibilities covered with insurance policies on both Barbaro’s life and on his stallion potential, but the horse’s earnings at stud are likely to be significantly higher than the payout of either policy. [12]"
I’m not “in the know” enough to edit Barbaro’s article myself but I thought someone here might have a more balanced view with which to replace this passage. The beauty of Wikipedia lies therein!
didgery~
Way back, when the Barbaro incident occured, there was talk about his potential breeding soundness, and what you cited above is exactly what I remember being in several articles.
I’d leave it as stated.
Are treats appropriate?
I really did hold my tongue for a long time, but it’s really bugging me. I know I am fixated on horses with laminitis associated with insulin resistance, and this case is about too much weight on a good foot, and TB’s tend to be more insulin sensitive, but…
Stress, surgery, infection, can all CAUSE transitory insulin resistance. No one knows the mechanism by which insulin resistance causes laminitis, but as the owner of 2 insulin resistant, chronically laminitic ponies, I am going NUTS hearing about feeding this horse peppermints and fruit and carrots, and fresh grass and all these treats. It would SURELY set off mine into a laminitis attack. Has anyone tested his insulin/glucose levels lately? Yes, the horse needs to eat but there are a LOT safer sources of calories than peppermints and carrots. Why do we think sugary treats are good for sick horses?
Katy
Thanks for the updates VB, on Barbaro’s condition. Big hugs and positive thoughts for him, his owner and trainer. But, I have to tell you I am now totally confused. Are you going to Fair Hill every day to get the info on Barbaro? I was thinking that you spoke with Michael Matz daily. A couple of posts on the last few pages make it sound like you aren’t at Fair Hill. Can you please explain?
Oakleigh
Like a horse in full gallop, his mane flying in the wind, it’s the most natural thing in the world.
If anyone remembers Ruffian they said she woke from the anesthesia like she was running, subsequently the euthanized her to run free without reins to hold her back and no competitors to race just to run wild as she always wanted to do. The idea that she is buried in the infield at Belmont facing the finish line is just were she belongs and very appropriate.
I hope that Barbaro’s fate is a different one and he runs like the wind for us to see not just imagine…
Jingles from Ny
a nice Sports Illustrated Article
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/phil_taylor/07/19/barbaro/
I haven’t figured out how to post pieces of writing without doing copywrite violations!
Barbaro will never disappoint…
I think that says it all in the msnbc article. Thanks everyone for the links- they are great-
Keep at it you great horse you!
The ethically correct way to cut and paste others copyrighted work is to quote a portion of thier writings or article and provide a link. In this way you provide proper credit and traffic to whatever website that is hosting the original work.
Here is an example of your article:
Natural treasure
Barbaro’s grace and fighting spirit has touched us all
You are not alone. The rest of us feel it too – the need to stop what we’re doing and pay attention, at least for a moment, every time we hear Barbaro’s name in a news report or see it in a headline.
There is something about this horse and his fight for life that touches us. Every update brings either a sense of dread, that the end has arrived, or of relief, that he just might survive after all.
It surprises you a bit, doesn’t it? That you care this much? After all, you really don’t know Barbaro. You may be one of the millions of sports fans who had never heard of him before he won the Kentucky Derby in May. Or maybe you first became aware of him when he snapped his right hind leg two weeks later in the Preakness, which led to the laminitis, the painful tissue inflammation that now threatens his life.
… snip …
to read the rest of the article visit http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/phil_taylor/07/19/barbaro/
From Alex:
Update 278: Kathy Anderson called again after her visit to Bobby (7:20 pm). She concurs with what we have heard today. She did provide some insight into Bobby’s current routine. As she was leaving, Bobby was being prepared to leave his sling. Basically it seems he spends about 12 hours in his sling and 12 hours out of his sling. When he leaves his sling he tends to sniff around his stall, prepare himself, and then lay down for about five hours. Before they release Bobby from the sling, the staff spend some time preparing the stall with extra straw etc.
For those interested in Barbaro treats:
This was posted earlier:
…Bernie, from Kennett Florist left this comment:
Alie, Steve, and I just got back from NBC and spoke with Dr. Sweeney, the nursing & office staff and the mood there was really happy. He’s doing well and they REALLY appreciates the goodie baskets and chocolates and cookies. They told us that Bobby LOVES the carrots & horsey treats. Dr. Sweeney said to us as she was holding the door for us, “He’s having another good day.”…
Virginia Bred
Thank you so much for all your posts. We’ve appreciated being able to follow Barbaro’s progress… but I’ve gotta admit, like Oakleigh, we too thought that you were out there each morning meeting Mike on the riding path … jotting down thoughts and impressions.
So, I guess I should be saying, “thank you” for your contributions and a HUGE “Thank you” to whomever you are/were quoting. 
