Here are answers to a couple more questions we had been asking amongst ourselves:
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[From the updates pages]
2. How do you keep water from entering the cast while a horse is awakening from anesthesia?
The horse is not actually "in" water; he is inside a rubber raft. His legs are placed into extensions that are at the bottom of the raft – like waders fishermen use. In addition to being protected inside these leg holes in the rubber raft, the injured leg is wrapped in a thick plastic bag (like a shower curtain), the air is removed from around it, and then the bag is sealed to the leg with duct tape. So, he actually is completely protected from the water.
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New Bolton Center has received many inquiries about the importance of a stallion’s hind leg in the reproduction process. “To register offspring from Thoroughbred stallions, all breeding must be done by natural service,” said Sue McDonnell, of the Equine Behavior Laboratory. “This means that artificial insemination and assisted reproductive techniques are not allowed.” McDonnell explained that mares must be mounted, which is a fairly athletic activity, requiring good hind-limb strength and agility. The stallion needs to be relatively fit and free from discomfort; therefore, after an injury heals, the stallion needs to re-build his cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness to the fullest extent possible.
“In a case such as Barbaro’s, his medical team would plan and monitor physical therapy with breeding in mind,” she said. “Amazing things have been done to accommodate disabled breeding stallions, from custom-built breeding ramps to supportive splints or casts, to medications that reduce the amount of effort required. But in most cases, simple old-fashioned careful attention to detail, such as highly skilled stallion and mare handlers who can allow the stallion to compensate for his limitations, good athletic surfaces, and a breeding schedule customized to the stallion’s fitness and fertility, can help sports injured stallions enjoy remarkably normal and successful breeding careers.”
Veterinary reproduction and behavior have made great strides in recent years, and New Bolton Center has been a leader in developing methods of assisting aging and disabled stallions to breed.
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>>>Today they said he was munching on some "phenomenally large" carrots someone sent as a gift, lol.
"Each carrot was almost equivalent to that small bag you buy in the grocery store," said Dr. Corinne Sweeney, executive director of the hospital.
All the horsey types at church Sunday were discussing Barbaro and his recovery.
Wonder if anybody's sent a Mass card yet? < g >
Today they said he was munching on some "phenomenally large" carrots someone sent as a gift, lol.
"Each carrot was almost equivalent to that small bag you buy in the grocery store," said Dr. Corinne Sweeney, executive director of the hospital.
I love that. Thanks for the ping.