and, not to make light of this, but, if he can’t handle live cover… I would be happy to have some of his AI semen sent here for some NICE Irish Sport Horse mares … (reduced fee, of course.) (Can you imagine the jumper or hunter he might produce?? <sigh> )
Frankly, if he can’t breed, I’ll bet he becomes the Jackson’s pet / lawn ornament.
Drat, I sure hope he lives! More jingling here!!
Unless the owners have accident/surgery insurance (available) they will be footing the bill but the insurance company does have the say in whether the horse is put down or not. IF they can save him for a decent life they do have the right to have them at least try. Of course the owner could put him down and forgo the insurance payoff.
I think if this horse had been a gelding they would have TRIED to save him. He won the KY Derby for them for heaven’s sake! =)
But the major reason to TRy and save him is not only is he one of THE most talented racehorses to come down the pike in some time but he has a very desirable stallion pedigree (well bred AND a good outcross for all the Storm cat mares out there). IF he survives and heals up he will be just fine, a little gimpy but not in pain. I’ve seen many stallions with fused ankles (front and back) and they walked, trotted and cantered freely. They may not win a conformation/movement class but they got around just fine. If he had an open fracture it might have been different because the wound would have been grossly contaminated. But by some miracle he did NOT have a compound fracture so the track dirt was kept out. If they had opened him up and saw there was no blood supply or the shattered bone was in say 100 pieces instead of 20 they probably would have put him down on the table. But you can ALWAYS put them down, you can’t bring them back. So if the horse is worth it (in whatever way) to the owner they certainly are able to take the shot. Some breeders and owners actually DO love their horses and will happily throw good money after bad (so to speak) even if said horse is just a pasture ornament from then on. (Gander anyone?)
Marieke, with all due respect, the insurer took over nada, zip, zilch. The owner always had the right to supercede the decision if they were willing to forego the payout. They could also have undergone the surgery and if things were not going well in 14-21 days or so, they could have opted to euthanize the horse and appeal the payout decision. They probably would have won if the injury was as you described it. But they share responsibility if the horse truly suffered for 6 months.
Now ask yourself why would an insurer would force treatment over payout? What do you think the likelihood of less ethical people deliberately endangering the health and welfare of a well insured horse would be if they were the ones calling the shots when it came to euthanasia and payout? Bearing in mind that people have been known to kill an animal for payout. The odds are excellent abuse would increase.
Yes the insurer is certainly looking out for its bottom line because bankrupt insurers do not do any of us any favors. But their actions do protect more horses from unscrupulous people.
Well we all know that Barbaro so far is beating the odds. I hope he continues to do so. The reasons why he is were he is right now in time are not revelent to this moment. Things are the way they are. We all suspected we were watching a great horse we just maybe did not realize how we would really see his greatness.
I remember watching the TV before Secretariats Belmont and the race analyers speculating that Secretariat might not be able to get a mile and a half due to his breeding. Well we know history. He was unlike any horse we had ever seen before.
People never thought we would make it to the moon…
Heres to beating the odds.
He is in my prayers
M
Life doesn’t always play by the rules.
All I know is that I am happy…
that they made the decisions they did. PEople are asking why not put him down, On my own board which I have neglected in the last 2 days… so immersed in this board! Someone asked Why put a horse thru this?? I say why ask why, He has been a model patient, and the owners wanted it! Who are we to decide! If I had a horse like Barbaro and the means to save him, Damn straight I would have, in a heart beat! I think the Barbaro team is amazing! My heart is with all of them, I will continue to pray that he goes on to mend and live a long life as a wonderful stallion, and perhaps sire the next Triple Crown Champion. I have never met this horse, only seen him on TV, and read about him, But to me, he is something worth saving! He has the look of eagles, and is a true champion… The fact that he was cut down in his prime, has not stopped his personality, and it seems his intelligence will see him thru this! I am an optimist, and a romantisist. But hell! Why not! Go Barbaro!!! :yes:
Having been acquainted with the Jacksons while working for a bloodstock agent, I am quite certain the insurance company had NO say in the decision to try to save him.
While they operate their breeding/racing stable as businesspeople, they love this horse. They not only have racehorses, Gretchen also rides, as do her children, I think.
As for his ability to successfully cover mares long-term, let’s not forget Nureyev, who had to recuperate from a broken hock that they fused (I’m fairly certain) and who came back to have a long successful career at stud.
If Barbaro cannot manage the pain, I’m also confident the Jacksons will do the right thing. They are truly wonderful people.
Well, my long post just got eaten. GRRRRR
But DMK, I respect your opinion, and in part agree. But when something as devastating as this happens to your horse, emotions run high. And if there is a light, hope of glimmering, that the vets are wrong, and that the insurance company knows what is best for your horse, decisions become thought to make. In the end the owner only wanted to do what was right for the horse, and she just hoped that he would lead a pasture sound life till old age. Sad, but true.
You’d like to think, but you know that isn’t always the case, right?
Ummm yeah. I’m pretty aware that it is not always the case, DMK. resisting the urge to eyeroll
Since I am neither friends of the Matz family, the Jackson family nor do I work for the vet school I can only speculate like everyone else, by what I’ve seen on the news and what I’ve read here and on the internet.
I agree with another poster who thinks this horse is something more than “average”. Charisma? Perhaps. Likeable owners, trainers and jockeys that are associated with this horse? Maybe.
Why is it so hard to believe that perhaps they just love this horse and want to try to save him? Given unlimited pockets, I would not be above doing it myself.
So far this horses’ resolve and demeanor seems to say that if any horse can beat this injury, he can!
I can’t believe anyone who thinks the horse should have been euthanized. Why is it with an animal, we are so quick to choose death? We would never not try to save a human being, no matter the extent of his or her injuries.
I’m quite sure if you could ask the horse, he would choose to have the chance to recover and have a cushy life as a breeding stallion, even if his chances are only 50/50.
I think it’s great that money wasn’t an issue and he was able to get the care he needed.
Actually, I think money IS the issue. Happily, it coincides with what is best for the horse. THIs time…
thinking of the animal
in many cases, good people choose to euthanize their animals because the animal can’t understand that it will get better. it only knows that it is in pain now. and some animals can’t take the recovery process. and some can.
I’ve been reading this thread with a lot of both emotion and interest. Normally I don’t watch horse racing, for the very reason that I don’t want to see what we all saw on Saturday with Barbaro. Wish I hadn’t seen that (like a lot of us, I took a special interest this year because of the local connections and especially the fact that Michael Matz was his trainer), but I’m very, very glad this lovely horse is getting a shot at living a long and happy life with people who love and appreciate him - who can afford to give him the very best treatment and care, and will, I have no doubt, also know if and when it’s time to let him go.
As a lot of you have said, he’s in the very best place he could be for this type of surgery. Dean Richardson is the best - my daughter had him as an instructor at Penn vet school, and I know others whose horses he’s saved over the years. I’ve also had a lot of dealings with New Bolton Center and the vets there over the years, both personally (unfortunately including losing a talented young horse on the operating table, due to a sudden, severe twisted colon), and also professionally (some of the time I’m an equine writer). The vets there are not only competent in the extreme, they’re also compassionate and realistic, and they do concern themselves with the quality of the animal’s life, not just with the technical aspects of surgery or other treatment. If Dean Richardson hadn’t thought there was a reasonable chance this horse could survive the surgery and recovery process, AND live a comfortable and happy life, whether he goes on to be a breeding stallion or not, I’m certain he would have advised the owners to put him down. With their financial resources, I doubt insurance dictates would have entered into it at all. From all indications, so far this horse is a fighter, luck is going his way, and he wants to live. Also, because the owners have the resources to do everything possible for the horse, his chances are better than they would have been otherwise. Also, I checked with my husband, an emergency physician for humans, just to make sure about this, and it’s true that if Barbaro’s ankle fuses as intended, the joint will be as strong or even stronger than if it had never been injured. There should be no reason he couldn’t have a normal career as a breeding stallion, should get around fine, and probably run no huge risk of arthritis in the joint either, if it’s fused. How many of us can say our own horses will never develop arthritis, partially as a result of the activities we do with them? We take all possible care, give them supplements and all that, and hope for the best. How could we wish for any less for this magnificent horse? I think he’ll let his people know if the time comes that he’s ready to go, and he sure doesn’t seem to be doing that now. Let’s just all keep our fingers and toes crossed that his luck continues to hold, and stop second-guessing his owners for trying to save him.
You know, I truly am glad Barbaro is being such a good patient and the surgery was successful. The whole story is just incredible, really - who would have thought something this enormous would happen on Saturday? Even my 11 year old daughter has been interested in seeing the pictures of the recovery pool and the x-rays of his leg. This is ground-breaking stuff. I truly believe we are seeing history made, and I really hope Barbaro can pull through and recover. He does seem like a special horse, and he is so very lucky that his owners have the bravery and the money to try and let him go on with his life. A lot of “normal” horse owners would not have been able to give their horses a chance like this, Barbaro is very lucky right now. He’s made it this far, let’s hope now he pulls through, and as someone said, shows us how he is true champion. As long as Barbaro is comfortable, happy, and healing, there is a chance.
In my mind ,the question wouldn’t be “why surgery?” it would be “why not?”
If the vets had believed there was no possibility of resoring the horse to a reasonable quality of life,they would have not gone through with the surgery.Money is not an issue.The technology exists for it to be possible. By doing the best possible for this horse some good may come out of it for other horses with similar injuries in the future.
If it were a human ,there would be no question,would there?There are a great many humans far less deserving of another chance to live.How many humans go through excruciating surgeries,and recovery?How many of those people ,due to their injuries are unable to be athletes ,or even productive citizens?How many people undergo the devestation of chemotherapy,surgeries,amputations,with little more than a glimmer of hope that they might have a bit more time on this earth,even though the quality of their lives is greatly diminished? We try to save them ,if there is a chance don’t we? In fact we don’t even offer the option of euthanizing a hopelessly ill person ,suffering great pain.
So why not give this outstanding colt every opportunity to live,even if it is only to be a horse ,grazing in his pasture,enjoying the sunshine,and a nice belly scratch? The option to euthanize is always there if it is needed.
Jingling like mad for Bararo’s recovery.
i don’t think there would have been any questiion if he was euthanized after seeing the before xrays, these owners have the money and connections to try to save him, in the end who knows if it will be worth it to the horse, it will be a few months before anyone knows
Ah, I love the epidural. Lovely memories …
You never know, the Jacksons have the money to do it for a gelding. Perhaps if the quality of life was a possibility, they would’ve. But I certainly wouldn’t have criticized them for putting a gelding down.
As an aside, if he can’t live cover, perhaps with have an AI sport horse sire on our side!! LOL
Or maybe someday, since they can test parentage with DNA now, the Jockey Club will allow AI. Maybe for special circumstances?
I agree. My own first hand observation of gravely injured insured horses is that the insurance company is on board with decision making from the get go and I suspect it is no different with Barbaro given the payout should he expire.
In the end, everyone will win. Barbaro will recover and live out a natural life or he will not survive but every single avenue of modern medicine will have been explored- the owners and vet school will be thought of kindly for their heroic efforts.
I wish the gallant stallion well. The recovery photos touch your emotions in a far different way, a hopeful one, than the breakdown photos taken 24 hours earlier.
Anyone who has been involved in horses long enough has seen someone – perhaps even themselves – ignore the statistics and latch on to that glimmer of hope, no matter how small it might be, that they might be able to save their horse, and are often willing to put themselves into debt to do it. Others opt to provide for the retirement of their beloved horses when putting them down would be a far less expensive decision.
What the Jacksons are doing really is no different to me than what I’ve seen others do, just on a much, much larger scale, and fortunately for them, for Barbaro, and for horse owners and lovers everywhere, they have the means to do it.
I am sure there are many reasons why they are doing this, and I don’t think money is at the top of that list.
It was asked:
Why are they doing the surgery instead of just putting him down like most horses?
My initial thought:
What I hope:
Because they want to do right by the horse.
From everything I’ve heard about the Jacksons, they would have attempted to save this horse whether he was a gelding, filly, or colt. It just seems to be who they are and thankfully, they have the means to do it.
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
