Posted on 07/13/2006 3:58:23 PM PDT by gate2wire
ping
What an emotional roller coaster
Bummer.
I truly hate to say this, but I think the Doc is trying to prepare us for the worst.
A very sad turn of events. Barbaro and his caretakers have become local heroes. But if Barbaro is in pain, he will be euthanized. Very few have made it back from this kind of infection and laminitis. Even Secretariat succumbed to a similar ailment.
I know in my heart that the doctors and staff at New Bolton and the Jacksons have done everything in their collective powers to save Barbaro. They will not let him suffer if he is in pain. Prayers to all that have been involved with helping this magnificent animal. And more prayers to vets and animal lovers all.
It's amazing to me how fragile these animals are. I can't think of any other 4-legged animal that can't do fine on 3 legs. I wonder if wild horses are as susceptible to this problem as these expensive inbred types.
What a shame!! Barbaro has been through a lot from this ordeal and I had high hopes that he would actually survive. I hate to see a beautiful animal having to go through this type of situation.
Thanks.
I would guess not. Any wild horse who foundered would be promptly eaten by predators, so any predisposition to founder would swiftly be bred out of the population. In any case the rich feeds and pastures that founder most human-owned horses are seldom encountered by feral horses (though that was not the case of the founder in Barbaro).
The news of Barbaro's developments has been leaking out in such a way, over the past couple of days, as to prepare all concerned for the inevitable.
Yes. This hoof problem has always been a major concern.
It ain't over, but doesn't look good.
Maybe God just needs a new, spirited and brave horse.
:-)
A very sad ending seems likely now. A real shame. I would guess ample supplies have been taken to ensure his genes don't leave the pool.
I'll bet he'll be euthanized over the weekend. The surgeon said he'd be put down immediately if laminitis develops in another leg. One of the front legs will be affected and that will be the end. He compared the pain level for the horse to having your fingernail ripped out. Barbaro apparently is on fairly heavy pain medication and spends some time each day in a sling that partially supports his weight.
I think the surgeon is emotionally involved in this. He ended his news conference abruptly this morning after he commented about what a strong, tough, good-looking animal Barbaro is and why nobody wants to put him down until every effort is exhausted. I teared up just listening to him.
Well, if you mean artificial insemination, horseracing doesn't allow that.
He does have a full brother though. A weanling, I think.
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