Barbaro

R. Richard

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Just in case anyone is still interested, Barbaro the race horse is apparently not going to die despite a life threatenign injury to his right hind leg. It has been a long, hard fight by a magnificent animal. Comment?

Barbaro's cast removed

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Barbaro is walking freely, without a cast.

Nearly six months after a horrifying accident at the Preakness, Barbaro had the cast removed from his lower right hind leg on Monday. The Kentucky Derby winner was in the cast since having surgery on May 21, a day after the second race of the Triple Crown series.

"He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood. He walked easily back to his stall," said Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. "He used all of his legs quite well."

Barbaro's left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn't shown signs of any new problems.

"The hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered," Richardson said.

During Monday's procedure, Barbaro's foot was trimmed and a new shoe was glued on it. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.

Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness. The 3-year-old colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint -- the ankle -- was dislocated.

Richardson said after performing surgery the pastern bone was shattered in "20-plus pieces."

Barbaro's right hind bones healed so well after surgery his cast could have been off months ago, if not for the laminitis in his other hind leg. The painful hoof disease prevented the cast from being removed sooner because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.

Barbaro's devastating injuries captured the attention of racing fans across the nation this summer. The outpouring of sympathy was overwhelming and daily updates on Barbaro's condition were provided by the medical staff at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
 
Fantastic, I watched that race and almost lost it when I saw the horrific accident. Seeing an animal go through something like that, something they have trained all their lives for suddenly having it stripped away to an almost decided death sentence is undiscribable.

Someone should throw a party!! Least now he can be put to stud- Like all men! lol
Cealy
 
That is brilliant news, I always have a soft spot for horses... I blame my grandfather ;)
 
R. Richard said:
Barbaro was Superhorse!
In spandex and cape? You know Super is not for real unless there's spandex.
 
God now all the nag has to do is fuck for the rest of his life. Where do I find one of these jobs??
 
Jenny_Jackson said:
God now all the nag has to do is fuck for the rest of his life. Where do I find one of these jobs??

How fast can you run?
 
:)

Thank you for posting this. I have enjoyed hearing of Barbaro's healing and recovery over the past months. It should give us pause to recognize dignity and strength in healing even when the odds are stacked against one.

I own a ranch with horses and cattle. I raise my horses from tiny foals, teaching them that man is not such a scary creature after all. They learn to trust and look forward to your presence among them. There's nothing like going out to the barn on a quiet morning to be greeted by a friendly nicker. :)

Sensual,

Thorobreds like Barbaro are only 3 years old when they compete in a race such as the Preakness. They aren't that old at all. Some of these beautiful animals are broken to ride while they are only 18 months old. Their knees haven't filled in completely, this includes ligaments and tendons- still very young and pliable, thus very susceptible to injury. The bones also haven't developed fully to be able to handle the stress of full bore racing just yet. That comes when they reach maturity at four years old. (which is what happened to dear Barbaro- his legs and bones just weren't ready yet) While they are bred to run, they do not train all their lives for just one race. The will to run comes naturally. :)
 
LadyWhiteWolf said:
The will to run comes naturally. :)

Indeed it does.

I've owned two off-the-track horses, both of them winners in their time. Both had to go through long periods of rehab, not for injuries (which they had, but had already healed), but for them to re-learn how to act under saddle.

Once they'd gotten over the urge to do nothing but run (and they're damn fast - faster than it looks on tv), I couldn't ask for a better horse. They have beautiful, intelligent temperments, and will willingly do anything you ask of them. :)
 
I have to second WW and cloudy... nothing beats a Thoroughbred, once you retrain them. I miss mine.

Right now I have a Walkaloosa, a Welsh/?? cross, a Paso Fino that doesn't gait, and an Egyptian Arabian who is actually more vain, temperamental, picky and neurotic than any Thoroughbred I have ever dealt with- until he's under saddle of my three year old appears. Then he turns into teh perfect gentleman and reminds me why I love him.
 
SensualCealy said:
Fantastic, I watched that race and almost lost it when I saw the horrific accident. Seeing an animal go through something like that, something they have trained all their lives for suddenly having it stripped away to an almost decided death sentence is undiscribable.

Someone should throw a party!! Least now he can be put to stud- Like all men! lol
Cealy

It is good news that he is surviving, but I might have to rain on somebody's parade on this. It's my understanding that he will not be able to be put to stud because he would not be able to stand on his hind legs while servicing a mare. His legs would not be strong enugh. Possibly a sling of some kind could be arranged for him.
 
I'm not at all a horse-person, but I happened to read Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand about a year ago. I highly recommend it, as it has many compelling characters. Not the least of which is the horse himself. :)
 
SweetPrettyAss said:
It is good news that he is surviving, but I might have to rain on somebody's parade on this. It's my understanding that he will not be able to be put to stud because he would not be able to stand on his hind legs while servicing a mare. His legs would not be strong enugh. Possibly a sling of some kind could be arranged for him.

Sorry, but this is wrong. With a horse that's worth that much money, they won't put them with a mare and risk them getting hurt. They use artificial insemination.
 
SweetPrettyAss said:
It is good news that he is surviving, but I might have to rain on somebody's parade on this. It's my understanding that he will not be able to be put to stud because he would not be able to stand on his hind legs while servicing a mare. His legs would not be strong enugh. Possibly a sling of some kind could be arranged for him.

I am no expert, but I have read a great deal of information on Barbaro. The main problem right now is not the broken leg, it is a severe case of laminitus that almost destroyed the other
rear hoof. The left rear hoof is regrowing, but it takes a long time and no one is really sure how much time, because horses with that much hoof damage are normally put down.​
 
cloudy said:
Sorry, but this is wrong. With a horse that's worth that much money, they won't put them with a mare and risk them getting hurt. They use artificial insemination.

I don't think that would be much fun for him. Or for the mare either. It is better than being killed, though.
 
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