I hate to sound stupid, but is Barbaro the horse that broke his leg in the second (or third?) of the Triple Crown races? I don’t know that much about horse racing, but I was very sad about that horse, and I thought I heard that horse was ‘rehabilitated’ enough to live (although he obviously could no longer race). Am I thinking of the same horse you are referring to?
On another note, I absolutely LOVE THAT SONG...Run for the Roses...by Dan Fogelberg...it’s beautiful!
Yes, Barbaro (”Bobby”) won the Kentucky Derby last year by 6-1/2 lengths. First potential Triple Crown winner to come along in many, many years.
Broke his leg out of the gate at the Preakness and never recovered, but not for lack of prayers from around the world and first-class veterinarian care. (The Belmont Stakes would’ve been the 3rd leg of the Crown.) Just an incredible, incredible horse with a ton of spirit.
He got laminitis in the other foot, opposite the broken leg, that he had to favor while standing and recuperating. The broken leg, shattered in 17 places, was actually spliced back together with steel plates and *did* heal.
He had a special sling to help him keep so much weight off the bad hoof, but so much of his foot had to be carved out away from the diseased area and the hoof wall, that he just couldn’t re-grow it fast enough.
The founder in the hoof eventually led to his having to be put down because in the end, the pain just couldn’t be mitigated. We had all soooo hoped he’d at least be able to be put out to pasture and enjoy his last days, and *perhaps* be able to stand on his repaired leg and a healed hoof to mate and make baby Barbaros.
He has two full brothers, one of which was born recently, but I just haven’t had the heart to read about them or follow them.
Barbaro is (was) a great, great, great - did I mention “great”? - horse! Run for the Roses is such a great song and I will always, always think of no one else but Barbaro when I hear it.