When they first operated on him, he came down off the pain killers and was gentle like he understood they meant him no harm. He did not panic and thrash about, I knew he had a chance. He is an amazing patient. To me, this makes the horse that much more of an icon. Some of this behavior has to be credited to his trainer, Matz. The concerned equisterian(sp?) crowd are very much into behavior and trying to figure out a horse's needs. Very observant group on the whole. I give them a lot of credit. Very different than the racing horsemen. Lots of women in this group who are very much an empathetic bunch. My wife is among this group who really know horses.

I think my wife looks at horses as sort of these noble, very physically strong humans that can be figured out and controlled. Unlike her human husband. Sorry for any sexist comments but this is kind of how I see it.

Long way to go still for Barbaro... but this is one horse dare I say... I think I could root for his babies.