According to Richardson, the laminitis is pretty much as bad as it gets. They've removed part of his hoof wall, only 20% is still attached, and he's in a foot cast with foam padding and antiseptic dressings. They're trying to regrow the hoof wall.
They've been teaching him to adapt to a sling, which he's responded to well, and the other pain management techniques are working well. If those techniques stop working, they're going to "quit on the horse, as simple as that."
His chances of survival are "poor." Richardson says he'd be lying if he said anything other than poor. At the same time, as long as the horse is not suffering, they will continue on.
Horses have survived from this condition before, but it is a longshot. If they cannot keep Barbaro comfortable, they will not continue.
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