Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[VirginiaBred]

[B]From Alex/Tim~

[/B]Update 322: We were told there would be a cast change this week on Barbaro’s right hind leg. This did occur, yesterday (wednesday). Michael mentioned it to me this morning, Kathy Anderson also noted the cast change when I caught up with her a little later. I believe they actually changed both casts yesterday. Anyway, from what I understand they are pleased with what they saw, but I do not know the details. It is just a relief to know the right hind cast change has occured, and it was done in the sling etc. This makes changing the cast a little more tricky I think, but much better for Bobby!

[Davignport]

Just lit my candles for today. Many thanks to VB and Alex - I don’t know what we would do without you. Horse people are a special breed…

[ivy62]

It is great to get all the updates, thank you VB and everyone else, I was wondering to we really know what they are looking for when they examine his legs? How long would it take a break like that to be weight bearing so maybe they could get him out of the sling to help treat the other foot before something else happens? GO BARBARO!
Just lit another candle…

[vineyridge]

Have never seen this quoted on any internet horse board.

King James Version of the Bible, Job, Ch. 39. God is pointing out to Job the wonders that he, God, has created. I’ve always loved this, since it “proves” that God (or at least the ancient Hebrews) saw their horses in the same way we, several millenia later, do.

Barbaro fits the description perfectly.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength?
Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?
The glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength:
he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted;
neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him,
the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage:
neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha!
And he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

I hope no one is offended by a biblical quotation.

[Gunnar]

To you VB thanks for the updates. I lit another couple candles today and as always Bobby is in my thoughts!:sadsmile:

[Fancy]

@ivy62

It is great to get all the updates, thank you VB and everyone else, I was wondering to we really know what they are looking for when they examine his legs? How long would it take a break like that to be weight bearing so maybe they could get him out of the sling to help treat the other foot before something else happens? GO BARBARO!
Just lit another candle…

According to what they’ve been saying, his right leg has been weight bearing all the time. The trouble started when he developed an infection and put too much weight on his left leg. The sling doesn’t actually hold him up–it just gives him a way to rest his legs. Apparently it also encourages him to take some of the weight off of his front feet too. So I think the sling is a GOOD thing.

[ivy62]

Thanks for explaining that Fancy. I am still a bit concerned that his weight bearing is not comfortable, in the video where it showed Dr. Richardson walking him he held it up ever so slightly except when he needed it to walk. But if the sling will make a difference I am all for it. I just wish he could see the light of day outside. Still does anyone know the recovery time of major breaks in horses?

[Jazzy_s_mom]

Fabulous news for Barbaro.

As for the God Jumps article, Lauren Davis Baker is the editor of a small regional magazine called Flying Changes. I think that it is based in Oregon. Hope that helps!

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:

Update 323: This morning we had Michael Bryant, a photographer, visit Fair Hill and Tim’s barn. Very cool guy. He had covered Barbaro for the Philadelphia Inquirer during Bobby’s training at Fair Hill leading up to the Preakness, and Preakness Day. He has a blog, and on his blog he has an entry of photographs from the Preakness. The entry also includes this text from Michael:

I was one of 100,000 people at Pimlico when Barbaro broke his back right leg and ankle. The gasps and the screams from the crowd was something I have never heard in my life and I hope I never have to hear again.

The entry is here: Barbaro Breakdown, please do not visit if the Preakness coverage upsets you as these pictures, while very good, vividly and uniqely portray the horrific incident.
I asked Michael if he would create a blog entry of some of his other Bobby pictures from Fair Hill. He showed them to me and they are very good, so lets hope he does.

[eggbutt]

@Jazzy's mom

Fabulous news for Barbaro.

As for the God Jumps article, Lauren Davis Baker is the editor of a small regional magazine called Flying Changes. I think that it is based in Oregon. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much Jazzy’s mom…I’ve sent her an email telling her how much her writing means to me and that I’ve posted it here to share with others. I thought it was super beautiful and so appropriate to so many of us on COTH.

More candles lit for B today.

[Fancy]

“I’m happy with the appearance of this foot, which is doing as well as can be expected,” said Dr. Richardson. “Over the last several days, his temperature has been normal and his blood work has significantly improved suggesting that the infection in his right hind is under control.” His heart rate is also consistently normal now, a good indication that he is stable and comfortable.

@ivy62

I am still a bit concerned that his weight bearing is not comfortable, in the video where it showed Dr. Richardson walking him he held it up ever so slightly except when he needed it to walk. But if the sling will make a difference I am all for it. I just wish he could see the light of day outside. Still does anyone know the recovery time of major breaks in horses?

When you saw him walking was right after they had changed both of the casts and he still had infection in his right leg. I imagine it was still painful. The infection is apparently under control now, but that’s pretty recent. His bones won’t knit until the infection is gone.

[ivy62]

Would you say he has osteomyelitis? If so they might think about HBO therapy for that it works very well… I hope he is comfortable and healing well. I am not questioning his care by any means but sometimes you have to look outside the box. My horse is still here and a miracle to me and we have tried all kinds of things as not to give up…I hope they will continue to search for EVERYTHING that might help…
GO BARBARO!

[MIdeafhorserider]

I am sorry that my english is not very good, or perfect. :sadsmile:

Long time ago, school for deaf did not allow sign language, just read lipreading. Sometimes lipreading is difficult. Teachers were old fashion.
Now, school for deaf allow sign language and lipreading. :no:

[cvl]

MI - you have absolutely nothing to apologize for - you’re doing just great!

Just lit another candle - Yay! we’re back over 1,000 again!

[VirginiaBred]

[B]Thanks to Tim & Alex:

[/B]Update 324: Kennett Florist have just visited New Bolton and have this to report:

Just back from NBC… Mood is good, and reports say that all is well with sweet Bobby. Today we delived a special treat for the gang at NBC. A very wonderful Barbaromaniac (Lisa in NY) had special chocolates made up… they looked like PA license plates that said BARBARO on them! They were so very cool! If I ever get my hubby to get a website going for personal KF stuff, I will post the picture. The basket also included chocolate stars and chocolate bandaids (for life’s boo-boos). The staff absolutely adored them. Dr. Sweeney was going to hold onto one to give to the Jackson’s; who, by the way, are back and will be in this afternoon to visit Bobby.
We will be back up in the morning as someone is treating them all to breakfast… and in the afternoon, ice cream sundaes! That’s going to be fun for all! You guys and gals are all great!!

Comment is posted: : Rachel at July 27, 2006 07:57 PM (note that is UK time, not US time!)

[VirginiaBred]

MIdeafhorserider, you are welcome here, and thank you for posting!!

GO BARBARO!!!

[War_Admiral]

Oh my gosh, I hope someone gets a pic of the license plate chocolates!

thinks Hope someone slips Bobby a little piece toooooooooooo…!

[DMK]

@ivy62

Thanks for explaining that Fancy. I am still a bit concerned that his weight bearing is not comfortable, in the video where it showed Dr. Richardson walking him he held it up ever so slightly except when he needed it to walk.

I think that odd “lifting” you see on the forward motion of the leg is just due to the nature of casted leg. Since his ankle cannot flex properly (and I think in that vidoe part of his hock range of motion was limited as well), he ends up moving his leg unnaturally and with more lift from the hip rather than the normal folding of all the joints.

Sort of like if you had your knee to ankle casted, you would need to pick up your leg solely through your hip rather than a combination of hip/ankle/knee motion.

[VirginiaBred]

Team Barbaro:

Are you aware that today marks the TWO WEEK (14 day) mark since the “L” word was spoken?

THIS IS BIG.

THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD THING, FOR THIS MUCH TIME TO HAVE PASSED!!!

I don’t know about you, but I have been holding my breath.

[Fancy]

I have no experience with the L-word. Is two weeks some sort of milestone? How long before we can start to take a big breath and believe that we’ve started the healing process again?