Barbaro update

[Vicky Texas]

Update from Dr. Dean W. Richardson on Barbaro’s condition

January 28, 2007

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — On Saturday, January 27, Barbaro was taken back to surgery because we could not keep him comfortable on his right hind foot. That foot developed a deep subsolar abscess secondary to bruising when he went through a period of discomfort on the left hind foot. It is not laminitis but the undermining of the sole and part of the lateral heel region are potentially just as serious. We attempted to manage the right hind foot in a cast and then in a custom fabricated brace but it was impossible to have access to the foot for treatment as well as acceptable stability and comfort. We elected to place his right hind in an external skeletal fixation device in order to provide the foot a chance to heal. This means that two steel pins have been placed transversely through his right hind cannon bone. These pins are connected to external sidebars that in turn are connected to a lightweight alloy foot plate. This results in the horse eliminating all weight bearing from the foot; the horse's weight is borne through the pins across his cannon bone. There is significant risk in this approach but we believed it was our only option given the worsening of the right hind foot problem. The major risk of the external skeletal fixation device is that the bone bearing the weight can fracture. Unfortunately, we felt we needed to take this risk because this approach offered our only hope of keeping Barbaro acceptably comfortable.

He had a perfect recovery from anesthesia and has been in and out of the sling since then. His left hind foot appears to be stable at this time. We remain concerned about both front feet. Remarkably, his attitude and appetite were excellent overnight.

We will continue to treat Barbaro aggressively as long as he remains bright, alert and eating. This is another significant setback that exemplifies how complex his medical situation remains because both hind limbs have major problems. Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. Updates will be provided when new information is available.

For more information on Barbaro, please see www.vet.upenn.edu.

Please keep Barbaro in your prayers

Thanks Vicky

 

[Miniv]

Thanks Vicky.

Seeing his back legs like that, and that the vets are obviously trying to keep his weight on balance........ it just breaks my heart.

MA

 

[angel_cowgirl]

Maybe I don't know what I'm looking at...but he looks thin to me in that bottom picture....

 

[Vicky Texas]

Hi, if you look at him, look at the back legs, BOTH. Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in

the preakness race last year. He has fought so hard to make it. And he is still fighting to live.

What a will this horse has.

But I posted the bottom picture big so you can see it. The right leg turns in, he does not

walk like a normal horse now. With all they did to try to fix it, he now walks with it in.

The left hind hoof has a huge rubbler shoe on it. You can really see the pictures on their

web site. When you go to the page. Go here http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/new...rbaroPhotos.htm

Then click on the pictures. They will become huge. Takes a minute to down load them.

It really hit home, looking at the pictures to see what this horse has gone through to live.

He is an incredible horse with such a will.

Please keep him in your prayers

Thanks

Vicky

 

[Becky]

Yes, I'd heard that he had surgery on his right hind foot yesterday. This gallant horse has fought so hard to pull through one setback after another. I hope this is the last one. Come on, Barbaro! We're rooting for you!

 

[AngieA]

This boy is all heart...he has fought so hard to make it thru all of this...I pray he will get better with no other set backs...and someday in the future we will see pictures of him standing in his own padock free of all pain...With just pretty fillies on his mind...

:

 

[Sunny]

Vicky, thank you for posting this update, and especially the photos. I was quite shocked by what I saw. Even though I've been following his progress via updates that have been posted here all along, I just couldn't imagine what his legs actually look like. I also think he looks quite thin, but considering the stress he's been under, he actually looks amazingly good.

My heart breaks for this incredible horse, and yet I'm in awe of his will to live and all that he has survived so far. I hope and pray he gets past this huge hurdle.

 

[Miniv]

Yes, he IS thin.........and I suspect it is on purpose! If he was in full weight, how much could those back feet take???

MA

 

[hairicane]

As a former thoroughbred owner I can tell u some of them are very hard keepers and a good # of the racing ones do show a little rib under the racing saddles/blankets. But I believe in Barbaros case they dont want him to gain too much weight while trying to heal. Remember the more weight he carries the more stress on those poor legs/feet. They can always fatten him up once he is fully healed. At this point they are still trying to keep him ALIVE.

 

[mininik]

Honestly, I've just been hoping he's out of his misery soon... one way or another. :no:

 

[Ferrah]

I wish we knew what he was really feeling, the poor guy.

 

[FoRebel]

I think he's really thin also but if you look at his hind-quarters it looks like because he's been on stall rest for so long that most of the muscle has atrophied.

I'm hoping that he heals well enough and at some point he'll be able to be a pasture ornament at least if he can't be used as a stud. At that point I really do believe he's going to be fat and happy!

 

[MBhorses]

Thanks for the update. We are praying that he gets well soon with no more pain.

keep us posted.

sending prayers him way.

melissa

 

[Just Us N Texas]

I don't know if I can express my feelings with words here or not. I feel so sorry for all this horse has gone through, and still lots of problems. They have made a lot of strides in how to take care of broken legs, but not many of us could afford to do it on our horses. Not too many TB people, nor their insurance companies would okay it because of the long rehab, and the lack of asurrance that he would recoup to be a stallion. Or a broodmare if the affected horse were a mare. At this point, I think they should keep trying with this brave, incredible horse, but I wonder how badly he is hurting? In my mind, I keep wondering if it were me and my horse, and I had the means, would I want to put him through it? I have lots of questions in my mind, and I truly love the thoroughbreds, (after all I am from that background), but sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't have been better for him to have put him down that day? Please don't flame for that, it is just a question in my mind. He is truly one of the bravest horses, and truly magnifient.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

I have to correct you BWMinis. He was kept alive because his owner has loved horses all her life, and since her farm is so close, she visits him twice a day. I am sure she felt she was trying to keep him alive for his admiring public as well as for her. They are not new horse owners, but have known, owned and loved horses all their lives. However misguided the decision to keep him alive may or may not have been, it was not meant for monetary decisions. The ultimate goal is to keep him alive, happy, and turned out to pasture the rest of his life. AI is not allowed in the thoroughbred industry. At the same time that I am disagreeing with your thoughts as to why he has been kept alive, (monetary), I also agree that it is seemingly cruel to put a champion through this. But, at this point, I wouldn't want to see them quit on him after all he has been through. And then, of course is the information they have learned about the constitution of horses, and the treatment of broken legs.

Edited to add: I have had experience with horse ins. companies, and they would rather you put a horse down than treat it for long periods of time. That is why I made reference to the breeding issues in an earlier post.

 

[txminipinto]

Edited to add: I have had experience with horse ins. companies, and they would rather you put a horse down than treat it for long periods of time. That is why I made reference to the breeding issues in an earlier post.<<<<

Actually, this is incorrect. It depends on the insured value of the horse in question. We had a similar experience with a race horse that was insured for millions (like Barbaro). We put that horse through so much pain in an attempt to save his life so the insurance company WOULDN'T have to pay the life insurance. Eventually, the horse won and was humanely euthanized.

 

[Buckskin gal]

He looks very sad and ready to go to a better place in that last picture. He suffered long enough and I am glad they decided to let him rest in peace. So sad that a beautiful animal was wasted to the racing industry.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Txminipinto, I worded that incorrectly. If it is cheaper for the insurance co. to have the horse treated then they will not let you put them down. If more expensive, then they will let you put them down. It is just like our insurance companies. Go whichever road is cheaper to them, not to us or our horses. I have seen it work both ways.

Anyway, it is good-bye now to a horse that was as regal, a true champion, and had more heart than most of us will ever see in our lifetimes. Farewell Barbaro, you were an inspiration to many people!