I Think Barbaro Should Be Put Down

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Of course he is, from a financial standpoint which is what this should absolutely not be about. I hate the fact that we care less about the cheap horses who are run into the grave and then jump up and down to save the expensive ones. There is no consistency here....The main point here is that trying to save him with the extent of the injuries he had was unheard of. If it was a stakes horse on the undercard that day, they would've been put down without a second thought. So while he is still alive, his future isn't any better than that day as far as I'm concerned.

The sad thing about it is because of the insurance involved, it could be out of th docs and the Jacksons control.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by jpops757

The sad thing about it is because of the insurance involved, it could be out of th docs and the Jacksons control.

How so? Even if that were the case, which I doubt, $$$ is not the issue. I think if Dr. Richardson and the Jacksons wanted to put him down, and they were told no by the insurance companies, they would do it anyway.

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by Samarta

How so? Even if that were the case, which I doubt, $$$ is not the issue. I think if Dr. Richardson and the Jacksons wanted to put him down, and they were told no by the insurance companies, they would do it anyway.

I agree with you but being right has no relationship to legality.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

I agree Randall, and I'm glad that someone finally had the balls to say it because I sure didn't. I have been thinking this ever since I found out just how bad his case of laminitis was. I have seen some turn around and be completely fine when they have a mild case of founder while others have to be put down from it. Barbaro's laminitis is as bad as it gets, and most horses would have been put down.

I truly believe that they put Barbaro back in the sling because the animal was in so much pain that they were afraid he was going to lay down. Most horses that have an acute attack do lay down and don't want to get back up.

There have already been 4-5 points at which they almost put Barbaro down. If he has another setback, I think they will make the right decision. This horse will never have a good quality of life.

[Cannon Shell]

There is no one here that is qualified to pass judgement on the fate of Barbaro. To my knowledge no one here has seen him other than in short video clips, we only know what is being reported newswise. We are not privy to his medical condition except what is released to the press. I seriously doubt and have doubted that this horse would ever be able to breed a mare let alone a book of mares and I dont believe that they are keeping him alive for monetary reasons. Barbaro may or may not make it a week, a month, a year or more but what he has done is allowed the doctors to advance their knowledge in dealing with catastrophic injuries such as his and the resulting problems. His legacy will live not only as a courageous and talented racehorse who showed bravery and determination following his injury but in the veternarian advances that will have come about because of him the horses that may be saved in the future

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

There is no one here that is qualified to pass judgement on the fate of Barbaro. To my knowledge no one here has seen him other than in short video clips, we only know what is being reported newswise. We are not privy to his medical condition except what is released to the press. I seriously doubt and have doubted that this horse would ever be able to breed a mare let alone a book of mares and I dont believe that they are keeping him alive for monetary reasons. Barbaro may or may not make it a week, a month, a year or more but what he has done is allowed the doctors to advance their knowledge in dealing with catastrophic injuries such as his and the resulting problems. His legacy will live not only as a courageous and talented racehorse who showed bravery and determination following his injury but in the veternarian advances that will have come about because of him the horses that may be saved in the future

Wonderful post.

[Seattleallstar]

Im just happy Barbaro isnt reading this. Get well boy! Dr Richardson will lead the way

I must say that this is probably the most civilized discussion of Barbaro's potential fate I have seen-- I'm impressed! It's hard not to get carried away with emotions, no matter which side you're on... no one wants to see this horse suffer, but then again, the horse deserves every fighting chance at a decent life.

I hope Barbaro doesn't have to be euthanized, and as of now I trust that if he hasn't been put down, there is a good reason for it. However, if he does have to be put down, I also understand that there was also a valid reason for doing so. I have never seen the colt in person so I don't feel comfortable saying what should or should not happen to him; like I said, I'm trusting the judgement of those who are around him day in and day out. Each day that I check all the horse racing websites and see that Barbaro is still alive and well, I'm happy.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

There is no one here that is qualified to pass judgement on the fate of Barbaro. To my knowledge no one here has seen him other than in short video clips, we only know what is being reported newswise. We are not privy to his medical condition except what is released to the press. I seriously doubt and have doubted that this horse would ever be able to breed a mare let alone a book of mares and I dont believe that they are keeping him alive for monetary reasons. Barbaro may or may not make it a week, a month, a year or more but what he has done is allowed the doctors to advance their knowledge in dealing with catastrophic injuries such as his and the resulting problems. His legacy will live not only as a courageous and talented racehorse who showed bravery and determination following his injury but in the veternarian advances that will have come about because of him the horses that may be saved in the future

very true cannon. he has made it this far because of advances that have been made because of those that came before him. and those after him will benefit.
maybe someday they will finally find the true key to curing laminits. altho in this case it's due to crushing of the laminae which caused loss of blood flow.

can't help but wonder--could there be a laminae transplant?? anyone know? could you remove healthy tissue from a horse and give to another. it's a thought that came to me last night....anyone?? may sound crazy, but i'd imagine once upon a time a lot of transplants seemed so..

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

There is no one here that is qualified to pass judgement on the fate of Barbaro. To my knowledge no one here has seen him other than in short video clips, we only know what is being reported newswise. We are not privy to his medical condition except what is released to the press. I seriously doubt and have doubted that this horse would ever be able to breed a mare let alone a book of mares and I dont believe that they are keeping him alive for monetary reasons. Barbaro may or may not make it a week, a month, a year or more but what he has done is allowed the doctors to advance their knowledge in dealing with catastrophic injuries such as his and the resulting problems. His legacy will live not only as a courageous and talented racehorse who showed bravery and determination following his injury but in the veternarian advances that will have come about because of him the horses that may be saved in the future

Completely disagree. The idea that a person can't have opinion on this b/c I'm they aren't there giving him a carrot every day or seeing in his stall is ridiculous. Mind you this is 8 months after the initial injury. Quite a bit is known about his day to day condition, the extent of the laminitis he suffered and the never ending surgeries he's had....And the idea that Barbaro has been the perfect guinea pig for advancing knowledge is a piss poor decision to keep a horse bouncing around from one setback to the next until he is put down....At this point, the decision is clear and my guess is they will realize that in the not too distant future.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Completely disagree. The idea that a person can't have opinion on this b/c I'm they aren't there giving him a carrot every day or seeing in his stall is ridiculous. Mind you this is 8 months after the initial injury. Quite a bit is known about his day to day condition, the extent of the laminitis he suffered and the never ending surgeries he's had....And the idea that Barbaro has been the perfect guinea pig for advancing knowledge is a piss poor decision to keep a horse bouncing around from one setback to the next until he is put down....At this point, the decision is clear and my guess is they will realize that in the not too distant future.

I never said that you could not have an opinion just that yours as well as all of us here were not 'qualified' opinions.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I don't think the connections are looking at him as a guinea pig at all. What if, by some miracle he makes a recovery and lives another 5 or so years. Won't it be worth it. In reality, since the lamintis which was in the summer, this is the first setback. Did anyone really think that there would be no setbacks along the road? After each setback are people going to be questioning the connections? They have made it clear from the get go their intentions. I respect your opinion, but honestly who knows better than Dr. Richardson? Don't you think he will do best by the horse?

Dahoss, Cannon's post said the guinea pig part. I sure don't think that anyone else is in it to advance knowledge. And yes, I hope he lives 25 years and has a 10,000 kids. But the truth is that's simply not going to happen.

[prudery]

Cannon Shell's post was an excellent and rational summary of how this situation should be viewed . Anecdotal posts are just that ... As far as Barbaro being in a sling for fear of lying down and not getting up, this is just another fallacy . Mrs Jackson and Dr. Richardson both have reported that the horse lies down and gets up daily . He is not in the sling all day and night . The purpose of the sling is to keep weight on the hind legs balanced and supported as best as possible for obvious reasons. Information from the horse's connections is best read at Tim Wooley's website, or at New Bolton's . It is the most accurate and substantiated .

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

I agree Randall, and I'm glad that someone finally had the balls to say it because I sure didn't. I have been thinking this ever since I found out just how bad his case of laminitis was. I have seen some turn around and be completely fine when they have a mild case of founder while others have to be put down from it. Barbaro's laminitis is as bad as it gets, and most horses would have been put down.

I truly believe that they put Barbaro back in the sling because the animal was in so much pain that they were afraid he was going to lay down. Most horses that have an acute attack do lay down and don't want to get back up.

There have already been 4-5 points at which they almost put Barbaro down. If he has another setback, I think they will make the right decision. This horse will never have a good quality of life.

they said back in july his laminitis was as bad as it gets.
as for the sling, they don't want to stress the fractured leg, they have put it back in a cast as well to help support that leg.
seems also it would be better to keep weight off the laminitic foot, so as to aid blood flow into the laminae.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

seems also it would be better to keep weight off the laminitic foot, so as to aid blood flow into the laminae.

while I agree that they don't want to overstress the laminitic foot this is not quite right...the horse's circulatory system to the lower leg is actually a rather rudimentary pump, it relys on the pressure exerted by weight bearing in order to force blood back to the heart...i.e. in order to work right there must be some weight bearing.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

while I agree that they don't want to overstress the laminitic foot this is not quite right...the horse's circulatory system to the lower leg is actually a rather rudimentary pump, it relys on the pressure exerted by weight bearing in order to force blood back to the heart...i.e. in order to work right there must be some weight bearing.

but the sling won't keep all the weight off, right? just keep it even so too much isn't on one leg. i do know too much weight on one foot for too long crushes the laminae and cuts off blood flow.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

while I agree that they don't want to overstress the laminitic foot this is not quite right...the horse's circulatory system to the lower leg is actually a rather rudimentary pump, it relys on the pressure exerted by weight bearing in order to force blood back to the heart...i.e. in order to work right there must be some weight bearing.

You are absolutely correct in this, but it depends on the type of laminitis the horse has as to whether or not they are to receive exercise. Most veterinarians recommend exercise (walking) directly after an acute attack if possible because it increases the circulation in the foot. However, in milder or chronic episodes, this is not recommended and can actually be very harmful.