They can\'t get the infection in the pastern under control. News conference tomorrow morning.
News conference is scheduled for 11am tomorrow. Rumor has it he has been put down.
Where did you hear about being put down?? Do you feel its reliable??
I wish I had not gone online before bed...can\'t we get SOME good news? from anywhere?
Richardson reiterated Tuesday\'s assessment that Barbaro\'s condition is \"potentially serious, and we are aggressively seeking all treatment options. Today we will focus on further diagnostics and keeping our patient comfortable. All decisions are being made in constant consultation with the owners, who continue to be only interested in his comfort.\"
This is vetspeak for, \"It\'s not working. Time to consider the alternative\"
Dammit.
From a webnews site:
Addressing a rumor that the news conference was to announce that Barbaro would be put down as soon as Thursday night, Gretchen Jackson said that was unfounded.
\"No, I guarantee that\'s not going to happen unless something goes drastically wrong in the next 24 hours,\" she said in a phone interview Wednesday.
i didnt\' sleep well last night either - storms here kept me up and was wondering if the horse\'s problem originated in training as a 2 yo . reading between the lines of recent press release\'s is tough but i tend to agree with wrongly .
i\'m guessig the next news we hear about the magnificant Barbaro will be that he\'s already gone .
Marcus, there\'s been no confirmation, just a rumor that was going through the media yesterday.
thanks wrongly - i hear that . but w/ Barbaro\'s infection i\'d guess prosteisis is out of the realm of discussion at this point ... i\'m quite sure the horse has suffered alot and understand that any decisions made are in his best interest .
He\'s got a bad case of laminitis. Looks grave.....this really sucks. In a world full of corruption, evil, predjudice, etc. it\'s not hard to understand why this noble warrior has captured so many hearts.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
latest from NY Times today:
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has developed a severe case of laminitis, a potentially fatal disease brought on by uneven weight distribution in the limbs, and his veterinarian called his chances of survival \'\'a long shot.\'\'
Dean Richardson, the chief surgeon who has been treating Barbaro since the colt suffered catastrophic injuries in the Preakness on May 20, said the Derby winner\'s chances of survival are poor.
\'\'I\'d be lying if I said anything other than poor,\'\' Richardson said Thursday at a news conference at the University of Pennsylvania\'s New Bolton Center. \'\'As long as the horse is not suffering, we\'re going to continue to try (to save him).
\'\'If we can keep him comfortable, we think it\'s worth the effort.\'\'
If not, Barbaro could be euthanized at any time. Richardson said if Barbaro does not respond quickly to treatment, \'\'It could happen within 24 hours.\'\'
Richardson said the laminitis nearly has destroyed the colt\'s hoof on his uninjured left hind leg. Laminitis, a painful condition, developed in the past few days. The disease turned more serious in the past day.
\'\'The left hind is basically as bad laminitis as you can have,\'\' Richardson said, adding that horses have recovered from laminitis. He said he has discussed the situation closely with owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson.
Richardson said Barbaro\'s injured right hind leg -- the one that shattered at the start of the Preakness -- is healing well, but because a horse has to be evenly balanced, laminitis set in on the other foot.
\'\'We removed a large portion of his (left) foot wall, probably 20 percent of it,\'\' Richardson said. \'\'He\'s in a foot cast with foam padding and antiseptic dressing. We\'ll see if can regrow his hoof. It will take months and months.\'\'
The grim update came after nearly six weeks of a smooth recovery. Barbaro had hours of surgery on May 21 to insert a titanium plate and 27 screws into three broken bones and the pastern joint, and has had two other operations in recent days.
\'\'I really thought we were going to make it two weeks ago,\'\' Richardson said. \'\'Today I\'m not as confident.\'\'
I had quoted this passage in a different context a few months ago. It comes from a book which Jimmy Breslin calls the second most important document in the world(the first most important being the payroll):
\"Do you give the horse its might?
Do you clothe its neck with mane?
Do you make it leap like the locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrible.
It paws violently, exults mightily;
it goes out to meet the weapons.
It laughs at fear, and is not dismayed;
it does not turn back from the sword.
Upon rattle the quiver,
the flashing spear and the javelin.
With fierceness and rage it swallows the ground;
it can not stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
When the trumpet sounds it says \"Aha!\"
From a distance it smells the battle,
the thunder of the captains, and the shouting\"
Job 39.
\"For a living dog is better than a dead lion\"
Ecclesiastes.
\"They give their lives for our enjoyment\"
Ron McInally.
Ironic but not surprising. Laminitis was the biggest threat to this colt from the start. Complex surgical procedures involving bone grafts and screws and plates made of advanced metals, all of the manners in which this colt was monitored, the high tech recovery techniques which were utilized, and Barbaro will most likely succumb to laminitis.
Ironic because despite the best care and technology available, people who live with horses, and the vets who treat these horses, really are no closer to understanding laminitis than they were 25 or 50 years ago.
Laminitis was the greatest fear of Barbaro\'s veterinary team from the onset, because they were aware that their patient was at high risk of foundering, and the survival rates of even healthy animals who founder is infinitesimal. And even though the veterinary team treating Barbaro knew that laminitis was the greatest threat to the colt, they were in the end apparently unable to prevent it.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had quoted this passage in a different context a
> few months ago. It comes from a book which Jimmy
> Breslin calls the second most important document
> in the world(the first most important being the
> payroll):
>
> \"Do you give the horse its might?
> Do you clothe its neck with mane?
>
> Do you make it leap like the locust?
> Its majestic snorting is terrible.
>
> It paws violently, exults mightily;
> it goes out to meet the weapons.
>
> It laughs at fear, and is not dismayed;
> it does not turn back from the sword.
>
> Upon rattle the quiver,
> the flashing spear and the javelin.
>
> With fierceness and rage it swallows the
> ground;
> it can not stand still at the sound of the
> trumpet.
>
> When the trumpet sounds it says \"Aha!\"
> From a distance it smells the battle,
> the thunder of the captains, and the shouting\"
>
> Job 39.
>
> \"For a living dog is better than a dead lion\"
>
> Ecclesiastes.
>
> \"They give their lives for our enjoyment\"
>
> Ron McInally.
>
> Ironic but not surprising. Laminitis was the
> biggest threat to this colt from the start.
> Complex surgical procedures involving bone grafts
> and screws and plates made of advanced metals, all
> of the manners in which this colt was monitored,
> the high tech recovery techniques which were
> utilized, and Barbaro will most likely succumb to
> laminitis.
>
> Ironic because despite the best care and
> technology available, people who live with horses,
> and the vets who treat these horses, really are no
> closer to understanding laminitis than they were
> 25 or 50 years ago.
>
> Laminitis was the greatest fear of Barbaro\'s
> veterinary team from the onset, because they were
> aware that their patient was at high risk of
> foundering, and the survival rates of even healthy
> animals who founder is infinitesimal. And even
> though the veterinary team treating Barbaro knew
> that laminitis was the greatest threat to the
> colt, they were in the end apparently unable to
> prevent it.
>
>
The Jackson woman has said from the inception: \"We want little Barbaro\'s running around the track.\" Why did she not say, We want to see Barbaro frolicking in our pasture? You have to wonder with her eye towards monetary return whether she\'ll consider a malpractice suit against Doc Richardson. He did play musical casts with Barbaro for many days when the root of the problem was something more.
The only thing that went Barbaro\'s way was the lack of a compound fracture. Many times you see the limb nearly sheared off as was in the case of Go for Wand. Barbaro himself did a remarkable job of getting his weight off the injury and only this athleticism prevented the injury from being compound. He was moving with the majority of his weight on three legs during most of the pull up.
Barbaro had three supportive structures fractured. One in 27 pieces. The initial infection apparently developed in either the fetlock or cannon bone, though that is not clear from the accounts. Once the infection was in his bloodstream it made the probabilities increase regarding founder. The abscess on the uninjured rear hoof was a harbinger of the feared laminitis. Now its apparently set in with a vengeance. They are administering large amounts of pain killers to Barbaro is how the press release must be interpreted. The horse himself is apparently nickering to his attendants. He\'s trying to tell them something. He\'s been a very brave animal. Hopefully they will listen to his nickers.
eventually the day draws to an end
and climbs into its evening bed
pulling the cover of dusk mist
upon itself in restful bliss
and highlit there in sunset clouds
array his lineage long and proud
roberto named for pirate kind
his majesty...ribot sublime
regret not the things not done
theres greatness in the races won
ctc
CtC--
Her saying \"we want little Barbaro\'s running around\" indicates her desire to see the horse survive and live a healthy, normal life for a horse more than her looking at the monetary side of things.
These people have more money than they\'ll ever need....they are thinking about the horse first.
Want to see an example of horse owners who see ONLY the monetary side of things....check out the FUNNY CIDE folks.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Joe, I\'m always skeptical of people telling me what their motivations are. The Doc, the Jackson\'s and the Media are all telling us that the motivation is one thing but the evidence that can be observed tells a different story.
Is anyone else getting a severe case of Deja Vu? or a flashback of Dubya Bush trying to articulate a legtimate reason for invading a country and killing its people? In other words do the words used by the proponets reconcile with what you can discern?
Gretchen Jackson needs to just go away. Maybe she can take Dubai Ports Dubya with her.
CTC you are right in that Bush has been a major setback for our country but you are out to lunch on the Jackson\'s.
They ONLY care about the horse being comfortable. I have been aware of them for many years and their generosity and compassion are second to none. Today I received a personal note and picture of Barbaro thanking me for the small donation I sent. Additionally, your previous prattle on his injury was without merit. BBB
bellsbendboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CTC you are right in that Bush has been a major
> setback for our country but you are out to lunch
> on the Jackson\'s.
>
> They ONLY care about the horse being comfortable.
> I have been aware of them for many years and their
> generosity and compassion are second to none.
> Today I received a personal note and picture of
> Barbaro thanking me for the small donation I sent.
> Additionally, your previous prattle on his injury
> was without merit. BBB
The horse should have been put down immediately. Sesamoid, Pastern, Cannon bone and dislocated fetlock. The desperate measures to save him had nothing to do with generoisity and compassion. Even now with only 20% of his hoof wall intact and delirious on pain killers they can\'t do the right thing. Its patently ridiculous and anyone falling for the PETA animal love nonsense has been suckered in.
You\'ve supposedly have been around the horses. I don\'t have to tell you what is going on right now and whats in store for the next few days to a week or so. It\'s got nothing to do with animal love. They want to breed him and this horse should not and is not going to breed.
Story over.
Chuck,
I\'ve ripped you on several occassions, but have to agree with you on this. I\'m sure they are compassionate people. But true compasion would have been to recognize the horrific injuries and, coupled with the extreme unlikelihood of recovery, the decision to humanely put down the horse.
I\'m sure many of us have had to deal with similar situations involving our pets. My favorite dog was a stray mutt, loyal as can be and with quirks that would make me shake my head. She didn\'t give litters to million dollar puppies, but I loved her like no other dog I ever had. When she was 12 the ligament went out in her hind leg. I took her to the vet where they perfomed surgery. A few days later the ligament went out again, so they again performed surgery again (kindly charging me for the anestetics only) and fused the joint. This would allow her to walk and get around. She wasn\'t home for 2 days when her other hind leg had the same problem. She couldn\'t walk and the only option was more surgery with no assurance that it would be successful. I couldn\'t bear to have her go through surgery all over again, so I made the desision to put her down.
I know...what does a dog have to do with this. I guess my point is that putting the welfare of your pet first comes at thy expense of putting your personal feelings second. I think of her often, and I sleep well at night knowing I did the right thing by her. I hope the Jackson\'s do the right thing by Barbaro.
P-Dub, I have a best friend story I can\'t even tell. 20 years later it still chokes me up. The best thing about the man dog relationship is that its just as good for the dog when the dog finds the right owner. Your dog was lucky and I\'m sure she knew it. Jerry has his cats. One was a diabetic receiving injections from him I believe. Did that cat get lucky or what?
The best horses are majestic, brave and dependable, yet honestly its hard to get as attached to them as a dog. Those dogs are just downright loyal. Plus the horses are an expertise thing. You can\'t get too sentimental over them. That said I visited Easy Goer\'s home shortly after he passed away and standing before his stall I got so emotional I\'m sure I weirded out the farm hand giving me the tour. When Smarty lost the Triple Crown I was major league funked out and it had nothing to do with not turning the Birdstone perfecta around.
I say some things to stir the pot. To get debate going, but I was stone sober serious about Barbaro not being a viable stud prospect and doing the right thing by him. Still, I\'m worried about him and restless, checking the sites constantly for the next bit of news even though I\'m quite sure I know what is developing. With laminitis things can happen quickly. Sunday Silence held on a week before he laid down, but he was an older horse. Barbaro was in absolute top condition when this happened and that condition and his big heart have carried him a long way. However, wishing breeding years upon him so badly that the reality is ignored is not humane. He\'s telling them he\'s tired.
Chuckles, so you have a heart after all. The man-pet bond is indeed strong. I used to have to give my cat Tiger twice daily insulin injections and towards the end, when he developed renal failure, daily subcutaneous infusions of Ringer's lactate to keep him hydrated and concocted all kinds of lactose free nutritional formulas when his appetite failed. Hardest of all was the decision to end his life when is suffering was too great at the age of 19.
I agreed that breeders should have given more importance to his breakdown and the industry more importance to soundness in breeding in general. That doesn't mean we wouldn't have wished him many happy years in the pasture in retirement.
At this point, however, I am unable to even think about his possible pros and cons as a stallion, as nature will probably apply its own cruel breeding program through natural selection and render that point moot.
I can only hope that this brave warrior can beat the long odds against recovery and if not, his last days be pain free. He is being heavily sedated with opioids, which can elevate mood as well as relieve pain. Both functions are very important at times like this. Dr. Richardson has said that he will not let him continue in pain when all else fails.
Bob
Encouraged Prado Pays Barbaro a Visit
Date Posted: 7/14/2006 5:44:08 PM
Last Updated: 7/14/2006 5:44:08 PM
you gotta love Edgar, anyone remember a jock who\'s$$$ came form a horsein distress oding htis...aside from Antley? The pet analogies are great, and I apologize up front...but I can\'t separate \'em. My jack russell would love Big Barbaro - and drive the big horse crazy!
(from Belmont Park report)
Jockey Edgar Prado drove to the University of Pennsylvania\'s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. Friday morning to visit ailing Classic winner Barbaro at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Dean Richardson, the colt\'s primary veterinarian, described Barbaro\'s chances of recovering from laminitis in his left-hind leg as \"poor.\" But Prado, who rode the colt to victory in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), said he has not lost faith.
\"He looked much better than I thought he would,\" said Prado, who left New York at 4:30 a.m. and spent about 2 1/2 hours with Barbaro before heading back to Belmont Park for its Sunset Friday card. \"He is very smart, and he knew me right away. I fed him, walked with him and he put his head on my shoulder and fell asleep.
\"It is a very bad situation,\" said Prado, who returned to Belmont to win the second and third races on Friday. \"But he has the will to overcome this.\"