Like many, I check this site every day to make sure Barbaro continues to do well. He continues to amaze.
A couple of trivia questions:
Anybody know how tall Barbaro is officially?
Anybody know what hapened to his tail? Seemed like it remained long after the first operation but a large part of it disappeared after that latest round. Was it deliberately shortened to make caring for those hind legs or using the sling easier? (And if they were smart they would sell the hair for charity!)
His tail was pulled out or caught in his cast (one of the first ones) and I think I read he is 16.3.
Barbaro’s feed question
VB, thanks for the updates. I check for the latest each morning over my coffee.
Having read some discussions about B’s feed and now the laminitis, I’m curious: what IS he fed, especially with the laminitis concern/reality?
Oh Susan…
I could not agree more! And Both Phillip and Michael are such incredible horseman! GO BOBBY!!! :yes:
Thanks to Tim/Alex:
Update 302: Dr. Kathy Anderson just called (as I was leaving my house to go for sunday lunch) and she was just leaving New Bolton Center (2:00 pm sunday). She was very pleased with Bobby. She said he looked very relaxed. He was comfortable standing squarely on all four feet. She massaged him, and he leaned against her at the appropriate times signaling his appreciation for the massage. She rubbed him behind the ears, and fed him fresh carrots that had been left for him. Basically while the medical prognosis remains the same, he is doing as well as can be expected at this point of his recovery.
The Sunday Herald has this article: Fans full of hope for Barbaro the ‘superhorse’, which is cool since its a Scottish paper. Perhaps Tim’s mum, who lives in Scotland, will see it! This only reinforces the reach Bobby has, we have previously highlighted Horsetalk from New Zealand, here is their most recent report: Barbaro ‘as well as can be expected’ which is also from today’s edition.
1,035 Candles remain lit. Keep the fire burning, TEAM BARBARO!!!
lit another one!
Me too!
Me TOOO!!! Keep it going guys! 
VB - you have been a glimmer
I check everyday, and scroll through the post til I see VB Update#…
My hub knows every morning and every night I have to check for “VBs Post on Barbaro”…
You are a household name here!
Thanks and we continue to pray or this beautiful boy.
Update 303: No new update tonight, but I thought I would post a link to these images of Fair Hill. There is one of me, plenty of Anne Kelly (who has contributed to this site) on Round Pond and also one of Kim Brette, who has also contributed, among other images. Thanks “All Things Considered”. The images do a good job of highlighting Fair Hill I think.
It has been nine weeks since Bobby came out his initial surgery following the Preakness. In the nine weeks we have had high moments, and low moments. We do know his condition remains serious, yet he is currently comfortable. It is a long road ahead, lets keep all our thoughts positive for Bobby.
I love the photos. I’ve been wearing out my digi cam and if anyone there wants photos of their horse just call on me, I’ll be there pushing the buttons on my camera.
Example: http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_hr_17805594/fc15/_hr/9c37.jpg?groHIxEBo8Dh9dYF
Just a quick snapshot of my neighbor’s horse, he’s looking for a home for him, bowed tendons. Never even raced only 3-4 years old. Isn’t he handsome?
Anyway, I love taking photos of the horses, you pose them, I shoot them. :winkgrin:
VB,
What gorgeous photos! All race horses should have a place like Fair Hill to train! What great minds they must develop with trails, grazing, etc.
With continued thanks to Alex & Tim~
Update 305: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (sunday). Saw Michael Matz this morning as I was going on to the track to breeze a horse. It’s absolutely gorgeous in Fair Hill this morning. Earlier I rode a set out back and got to see a fox cub playing in the newly cut grass!
updated monday 7:10am
Update 304: Kathy Warren writes a response to a news media that seems to capture Barbaro’s will to survive and continue his recovery:
[I]
I just sent the following message to Tom Archdeacon, a sportswriter at a newspaper in Dayton, who wrote a grim assessment for his paper this weekend:
[/I] [I]Subject: [B]don’t bet against the horse
[/B][/I] They’re giving him membrane to rebuild the left hind hoof, and the fact is, the extreme care for that injury is giving his right hind joint time to stabilize. They’re giving him epidurals and they cut the pain meds back every day as he’s able to tolerate less, that’s their touchstone for knowing how the horse is doing.
[I]
And this isn’t any ordinary horse, he hasn’t been ordinary his whole life. People who sat on his back when he was 2 years old say it took their breath away, his composure and self-awareness. He’s a class act. People say he has grace. I’ve known cats like that, and at least one dog – real grace, a presence and an optimism enough to humble ordinary persons.
[/I] Nobody has upgraded the horse’s condition by so much as an adjective, but everybody – especially the doctors and trainers who see him every day – all of them are saying, this horse requires us to give him a chance. He’s standing square, he’s got a sling he has adapted to, he sleeps lying down every night, he gets a bath on Saturdays, since he was a foal he has handled being in a stall better than most, he’s getting nutrients to help him with the left hind rebuild –
Don’t bet against the horse. Waste of your time, and you get a lot of people thinking you give up too easy.
Kathy Warren
Northbrook, IL
Also, congratulations (again) to Edgar Prado. I read in the New York Post (Ed Fountaine) that he won the riding title for the most recent meet at Belmont, thanks to his win in the Oaks this weekend.
Thanks VB!
I’ve lit my candle quota for today…so glad no news is good news!
It is this quality, I think, that we all feel even through the pictures and videos. He has such presence–I look at him and tears spring into my eyes. And I’m not a weepy woman. He is one awesome boy.
Lit my candle today for Bobby. Thanks VB for the continued updates and the pix of Fair Hill. Nice to get to see what Alex looks like. I was happy over the weekend not to hear any news about Bobby. May he continue to heal and grow stronger every day. We are all with you, beautiful boy…
Per Alex:
Update 306: I was walking back from the track today with Martine Palermo (have to check the name), one of Michael Matz’s exercise riders, and he described to me his visit to Bobby last monday. He was shipping a horse to NBC, and when he was there asked if it was OK to visit. He fed him carrots, and nearly got bitten. I could tell from the look in his (Martine’s) eyes how much the visit meant to him. Martine has a bumper sticker on the back of his vest (required equipment for all exercise riders), it says “Go Barbaro”. I will try to get a picture of him with it.
I am off to DC for the next day or so (teaching a class) so while I will continue to provide updates as I get them, there is no signal value in a delayed update (for example, I will try to get tomorrow morning’s update at the usual time, but it might not happen quite as fluidly). I think Kathy may visit again today, if so, I will try to get an update etc. The same goes for Peter etc.
Finally, Red Aspen did her last piece of work before her 2006 debut, which we hope will be this saturday at Philadelphia Park. She worked well on the wood chip track, and scoped clean. Her last start, before her winter break, was pretty impressive, she has never been out of the first three.
I finally figured out the candle deal! Thanks for the tips on how to light a candle.
VB continued thanks to you and all the others who keep us so informed.
The Run for the Roses vidoe is the best and I watched it for the 2nd time today. Tears can and will flow for you Bobby. Keep up your big fight and we will keep jingling for you!
Go Bobby!:sadsmile:
What does this have to do with Barbaro’s recovery?
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
