barbaro latest

[todko]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

It is still possible that barbaro might suffer a relapse of the laminitis in either his existing bad foot or one of his other 3 feet due to uneven weight distribution...however given that he has the absolute best care that money can buy and he has shown that he has a very stong will to survive I have great hope that this won't happen.
he does however face the long term issues of a foundered horse...they are more prone to foot abscesses and the hoof wall itself tends to grow erratically and is misshapen...and his handlers will have to be careful to avoid situations that may trigger another episode....such as overload on grass or grain, excess physical stress, even vaccination reactions etc can be a real problem for the laminitic horse.

Very well said.

The fact that Dr. Morrison has been to New Bolton a number of times probably indicates some complications with the laminitic hoof. Barbaro's life depends on his ability to adjust his weight distribution evenly.

I still play the '06 Derby at times -- Barbaro was a serious racehorse. To stay near the lead through those fractions and still come home in the 2nd fastest final quarter (only Secretariat came home better) is chilling. Watch him run out and come back on his toes nipping at the pony. He could have went around again.

It'd have been so cool to see him go back to the turf after the Derby. Run in Europe -- take down the Arc. He was a monster on the grass.

[Danzig]

actually, i think they've had a foot specialist in because A-that's his only real issue now, and B-they want to get him out of dodge and to a warmer climate, and they don't want that foot to turn into a real issue. luckily the weather has been fairly mild.
his hoof is growing back 'funny'--they don't think it will ever look like a normal hoof again. they just have to keep it, and him, on an even keel, or the fight begins all over again.

yes, there are still issues with that hoof--as pais said, there probably always will be. but there are horses who survive with chronic laminitis. his is an acute case, of course he will always have a higher risk of having another bout. but he's come so far, he has such tremendous spirit. i'm hoping to be reading updates on him for years to come.

[Theatrical]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

actually, i think they've had a foot specialist in because A-that's his only real issue now, and B-they want to get him out of dodge and to a warmer climate, and they don't want that foot to turn into a real issue. luckily the weather has been fairly mild.
his hoof is growing back 'funny'--they don't think it will ever look like a normal hoof again. they just have to keep it, and him, on an even keel, or the fight begins all over again.

yes, there are still issues with that hoof--as pais said, there probably always will be. but there are horses who survive with chronic laminitis. his is an acute case, of course he will always have a higher risk of having another bout. but he's come so far, he has such tremendous spirit. i'm hoping to be reading updates on him for years to come.

I have two horses that certainly qualify as horses with chronic laminitis. It is a dreadful and ugly disease and constant monitoring is paramount. One of my horses has had a foot resected and that is no doubt a procedure that absolutely takes time to heal. Both of my guys are very high maintenance, but they are worth it and as long as I am able, they'll get the best I can give 'em.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Theatrical

I have two horses that certainly qualify as horses with chronic laminitis. It is a dreadful and ugly disease and constant monitoring is paramount. One of my horses has had a foot resected and that is no doubt a procedure that absolutely takes time to heal. Both of my guys are very high maintenance, but they are worth it and as long as I am able, they'll get the best I can give 'em.

sorry to hear that they both have that. it is awful, my neighbors horse had it. glad to hear that you are doing so much for them, good for them and you!

[Echo Farm]

Both Hagyard-Davidson-McGee and Walmac had special facilities for Nureyev.
I don't know if these facilities still exist, or if new similar ones using today's technology could be built.
Something like them could be used for Barbaro, and other horses in the future.

I'm sure they have a plan.

Saving Nureyev


Nureyev Obituary

it's not my money or my horse, though.................

[Theatrical]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

sorry to hear that they both have that. it is awful, my neighbors horse had it. glad to hear that you are doing so much for them, good for them and you!

Thanks! We try hard and it's an ongoing and uncertain thing. Not like something you can give an antibiotic for or some other treatment that will "fix" it. There's so little information on this setback for Barbaro, but I hope his problem is along the lines of an abscess. Abscesses come with the laminitis territory and they are nasty and painful. The resect they did on his left back can be wrought with problems as the hoof grows back out. It is a delicate balancing act with the right back already being compromised. What a horse, though!

[philcski]

Originally Posted by todko

Very well said.

The fact that Dr. Morrison has been to New Bolton a number of times probably indicates some complications with the laminitic hoof. Barbaro's life depends on his ability to adjust his weight distribution evenly.

I still play the '06 Derby at times -- Barbaro was a serious racehorse. To stay near the lead through those fractions and still come home in the 2nd fastest final quarter (only Secretariat came home better) is chilling. Watch him run out and come back on his toes nipping at the pony. He could have went around again.

It'd have been so cool to see him go back to the turf after the Derby. Run in Europe -- take down the Arc. He was a monster on the grass.

He was the best 3YO on grass, as well. We all got robbed of a great one... let's hope he can continue to improve.

if you go back and watch that Derby again, notice how well his stablemate runs as well. Showing Up ran an absolute MONSTER race in only his 4th career start to track the pace and finish 6th- it's pretty cool to see the Lael stables silks next to each other the whole way down the backstretch. They were actually 1-2 for a brief moment at the top of the stretch before the deep closers passed Showing Up in midstretch.

[AeWingnut]

"Barbaro became acutely uncomfortable on the foot Tuesday night, prompting veterinarians there to remove his cast. After discovering a new separation of the inside portion of the hoof, they removed damaged tissue. The center referred to the setback as significant."


it's a longshot folks.

Hope for the best but expect the worst

[Danzig]

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=37013

here's the entire article. yes, a setback, but not insurmountable. he's no quitter, we all know that by now.

[Ghostzapperfan]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

"Barbaro became acutely uncomfortable on the foot Tuesday night, prompting veterinarians there to remove his cast. After discovering a new separation of the inside portion of the hoof, they removed damaged tissue. The center referred to the setback as significant."


it's a longshot folks.

Hope for the best but expect the worst

I can only hope for 1 thing, and that is my hope that this horse is comfortable. This animal cannot tell vets just how painful his hoof is, so I hope that the best monitoring can at least keep the horse pain-free.

If he is in agony, 100 of the best bred horses in the future are not worth it...

ALostTexan

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ALostTexan

I can only hope for 1 thing, and that is my hope that this horse is comfortable. This animal cannot tell vets just how painful his hoof is, so I hope that the best monitoring can at least keep the horse pain-free.

If he is in agony, 100 of the best bred horses in the future are not worth it...

ALostTexan

he is comfortable. absolutely that has been THE number one thing all along from the jacksons, that he not be in pain. it's why when they found the laminitis they chose to continue to treat him, rather than give up. barbaro has never given up, never been in pain, never been anything but bright, alert and happy. dr richardson assured them that he felt he could control the pain, and that has been the case.
they've said from the get go that they just want him to live, in comfort. breeding him would be the icing on the cake, but they just want the cake!

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by ALostTexan

I can only hope for 1 thing, and that is my hope that this horse is comfortable. This animal cannot tell vets just how painful his hoof is, so I hope that the best monitoring can at least keep the horse pain-free.

If he is in agony, 100 of the best bred horses in the future are not worth it...

ALostTexan

I share the same feelings as you. Unfortunately, founder is an extremely painful disease, but I'm sure that they are doing everything in their power to keep him comfortable. However, I'd be lying if I said that I thought that he was completely pain-free because I have seen first hand what this disease does to horses.

[Danzig]

this from another article, from espn:


Dr. Scott Morrison, who applied the cast on Jan. 3, called the latest development "a bump in the road" and said Barbaro "can possibly overcome it.

"When a horse tries to grow back an entire hoof capsule like Barbaro is, complications are expected along the way," added Morrison, the head of podiatry service at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. "While the foot is growing back, there is some wall structure and tissue that becomes compromised along the way and has to be removed."

Though Morrison wasn't present at New Bolton when Richardson removed the loose tissue, he believes Barbaro's condition has not regressed or gone "back to square one."
"But I wouldn't say the prognosis is good for the foot," he cautioned. "It's still grim. He still has to grow a hoof wall for his prognosis to improve. There's still a long road ahead."

[Ghostzapperfan]

We can only hope not...

ALostTexan

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I truly do not believe these owners have tried to keep him alive for this reason.

they had a huge policy on him--maybe more than one. there are mortality policies for racers, and they probably took out one for breeding purposes in case he turned out to be like cigar. hell, they paid out some 16mill for war emblem because he was reluctant-so just think the payout for barbaro. it's not about the money, never has been.

[Downthestretch55]

Courage Barbaro! Keep fighting big guy!
I posted about you in my "lessons learned from chickens" thread.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.
DTS

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

"Barbaro became acutely uncomfortable on the foot Tuesday night, prompting veterinarians there to remove his cast. After discovering a new separation of the inside portion of the hoof, they removed damaged tissue. The center referred to the setback as significant."


it's a longshot folks.

Hope for the best but expect the worst

But, he has made it through setbacks before...just another hurdle
Something tells me...he'll make it through.

[Scav]

but I have a feeling that we will be saying good bye soon. Fact is for him to go from almost leaving TO back in his sling, I get the idea this is one of those things where they are going to try and let the public down easy, not shock them. I hope not, but it is called public relations.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Scav

but I have a feeling that we will be saying good bye soon. Fact is for him to go from almost leaving TO back in his sling, I get the idea this is one of those things where they are going to try and let the public down easy, not shock them. I hope not, but it is called public relations.

i disagree. dr richardson has been up front from the get-go. when barbaro developed the laminitis back last summer, he was very clear on the odds barbaro faced at the time.
they have to be absolutely sure that barbaro maintains even weight on all four limbs. this is crucial. any stress on his other leg could cause laminitis in that limb as well-that would be imo a mortal blow. they have to keep his weight even. that's why they went to the sling.

[ShadowRoll]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

i disagree. dr richardson has been up front from the get-go. when barbaro developed the laminitis back last summer, he was very clear on the odds barbaro faced at the time.
they have to be absolutely sure that barbaro maintains even weight on all four limbs. this is crucial. any stress on his other leg could cause laminitis in that limb as well-that would be imo a mortal blow. they have to keep his weight even. that's why they went to the sling.

No doubt they're aware of the intense public scrutiny and are cautious about how and when they release information, but I agree that they seem to be up front. This whole thing seems to have placed a big burden on both the owners and the vets -- sort of like they have an obligation not just to the horse but also to the racing community to see it through. But I think they're handling it with dignity.

It's ironic, but I went to my first Kentucky Derby to see Barbaro run, and now he ends up just a few miles from my house.