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http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=64185&subsec=1

Posted: 6/2/2006 4:17:54 PM

Barbaro recovering well, eating like a king at New Bolton

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro continued to please equine surgeon Dean Richardson with his progress on Friday as he recuperates from surgery to repair multiple fractures to his right hind leg and a dislocated fetlock at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
....
"I'm very pleased with the progress Barbaro is making," said Richardson, chief surgeon at Penn's veterinary school. "Everything is fine."

One of the most common questions officials at the New Bolton Center have been asked in the last two weeks is: What is Barbaro being fed in addition to hay?

Barbaro is given the same sweet feed he was fed while racing, three times a day. Corn oil is added to his grain to help assist in maintaining his weight. Barbaro also is fed alfalfa for calcium and fresh hand-picked grass delivered directly to his stall.

Intensive Care Unit nurses also give Barbaro plenty of attention to alleviate boredom, grooming him "from head to tail at least once a day, not to mention all the 'scratching' sessions he gets," according to a press release.

Although Richardson has been hesitant to look too far into the future, another common question raised has been whether Barbaro would need additional support for his right hind leg should he eventually recover well enough to be let out in a paddock. Hospital officials said in the release that Barbaro would, ideally, need little additional support once his leg is fully healed. His foot should touch the ground as normal, although the angle of the fetlock may be different.

Thanks for the ping... I checked updates yesterday too, at the Penn Veterinary site, and there is an additional update from 6/1, and another update that features a visit from his jockey.

Photos from the visit: (there are more)


Edgar Prado and Barbaro	Edgar Prado gives Barbaro a kiss
Penn Veterinary Medicine : Updates on Barbaro's Condition

Interesting article! Glad to see he continues to do well.

(Don't stop praying though! Circulation needs to continue good and the bone fragments need to knit.)

I was interested at the pedigree - Dynaformer is Hail to Reason, Nashua and Bull Lea, with a double up to the British Hyperion on his dam's side (plus some Italian horses I don't know anything about at all.) Barbaro's dam is by Carson City, who is by Mr. Prospector, a Native Dancer/American Flag (Man O' War son) stallion with Nashua on the dam's side.

and fresh hand-picked grass delivered directly to his stall.

Well goodness sakes!

Heh... I guess I'm a little surprised at this, and they'd only be able to leave green grass with him IF he ate it right away. I've always been well-warned about feeding grass clippings (or allowing them to eat green grass clippings) after mowing, because cut green grass sours badly if it's not mature, it doesn't dry like mature hay when it's cut.

another common question raised has been whether Barbaro would need additional support for his right hind leg should he eventually recover well enough to be let out in a paddock. Hospital officials said in the release that Barbaro would, ideally, need little additional support once his leg is fully healed. His foot should touch the ground as normal, although the angle of the fetlock may be different.

I'm curious about the last sentence I underlined and why they phrased it that way. If the ankle is fused, surely it won't flex the way it would to move normally, and he'd have a rather hitchy gait, but I'd think the angle they fused it at would be his normal standing angle.

Do you suppose that's what they mean, that his fused ankle will make him step wonky on that side but that they think it should be strong?