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Barbaro 'much better' today, vet says
CNN ^ | Friday, July 14, 2006 | AP

Posted on 07/14/2006 6:58:52 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.

"He had a good night last night, and even slept on his side," Dr. Dean Richardson told The Associated Press early Friday before re-entering the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals to check again on the 3-year-colt. "He's doing much better."

Richardson appeared a bit more upbeat than he was Thursday, when he told a packed news conference that Barbaro has a severe case of the disease laminitis in his left hind leg, and termed his condition "poor."

Barbaro looked every bit the champion Thursday, but it's how he acts in the next few days that will determine how much longer he lives.

Laminitis, Richardson said, is an "exquisitely painful" condition, and Barbaro has a case so bad that 80 percent of the Derby winner's left hoof wall was removed Wednesday. It could take as long as six months for the hoof to grow back. The disease is often caused by uneven weight distribution to a limb, usually because of serious injury to another.

Barbaro shattered three bones in his right hind leg just a few yards after the start of the Preakness Stakes on May 20.

While the news was good Friday, Barbaro's condition could change at any time.

"If he starts acting like he doesn't want to stand on the leg, that's it -- that will be when we call it quits," a blunt Richardson said Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

"It could happen within 24 hours," he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: barbaro; generalchat; horseracing
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To: beyond the sea

We will all keep the faith.


81 posted on 07/14/2006 2:02:01 PM PDT by SHOOT THE MOON bat ("I ain't got a dime but what i got is mine. I ain't rich but Lord I'm free." George Strait)
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To: beyond the sea

He is a Champion in every way!!


82 posted on 07/14/2006 2:12:18 PM PDT by stopem (God Bless the U.S.A the Troops who protect her, and their Commander In Chief !)
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To: STARWISE; daviscupper; KavMan; onyx; Rte66; AnAmericanMother; beyond the sea; All
God willing, if Barbara recovers .. I think breeding will be far down the list.

If Barbaro recovers, he may never be able to cover a mare. Thoroughbred stallions have to mount mares, during which act most of their weight is borne on their two hind legs.

A horse's front legs are the equivalent of our arms, and the bone structure from ankle to foot is the rough equivalent of our wrists and hands. What the surgery has attempted to do is use plates and screws to stabilize the fractures from above the "wrist" downward. Then, over time, new bone will grow and fuse the entire area.

If you had a comparable procedure on your arm, wrist and hand, you would lose all mobility in those joints. So Barbaro will lose all mobility from his ankle down to his foot. That lower leg will never look or be normal again. He will be what amounts to a special needs horse the rest of his life.

If he is pain-free and is able to have a life outside a small stall, then he could be happy. Right now, apart from saving his life, that's the first goal. Anything beyond that would be gravy -- indeed, miraculous.

So whatever motives his owners have for doing everything possible to save Barbaro's life, I'm certain a stud career is not high on the list at this time.

83 posted on 07/14/2006 2:19:14 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: Wolfstar

Interesting. Thanks.

let's hope for a miracle and he recovers and gains reasonable use of his joints. I would love to see dozens of "little" Barbaros at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.


84 posted on 07/14/2006 2:27:07 PM PDT by daviscupper
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To: Wolfstar

thank you..................


85 posted on 07/14/2006 2:33:52 PM PDT by beyond the sea (Sean Vanity --- Exciting, Exclusive New Developments in the Duke Rape Case -- BARF)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I hope he gets better!


86 posted on 07/14/2006 2:34:27 PM PDT by Hawkeye's Girl
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To: daviscupper
Let's hope for a miracle and he recovers and gains reasonable use of his joints.

A nice wish. I'd settle just for him being able to go out in a paddock, eat some grass, enjoy the weather, be pain free and live something approaching a normal life for a horse.

87 posted on 07/14/2006 2:45:27 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: Doohickey

It is not 100% that he will be able to stud....that is rather violent event and I am not sure his front end will be able to handle it....IMO


88 posted on 07/14/2006 2:49:59 PM PDT by Kimmers
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To: Kimmers

No, but it's certainly worth the risk to find out. Don't get me wrong though; having grown up on a ranch myself, most breeders do love their horses. Enough to know when their animal has suffered enough and do the humane thing. Lord knows we had to part with a few when I was growing up.


89 posted on 07/14/2006 2:55:59 PM PDT by Doohickey (Democrats are nothing without a constituency of victims.)
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To: Wolfstar

Yes, you are right. Barbaro has a long way to go and something approaching a normal life would be welcomed.


90 posted on 07/14/2006 3:00:35 PM PDT by daviscupper
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To: Doohickey
It is all a waiting game...and the horse looks great.

My friend went to FL to see goodbye to her dying mom and I was in charge of her ill horse. He was a 23yo T-bred with cushings disease. We agreed on no aggressive therapies and sure enough I had to put him down but not before he got 4 lbs. of carrots.
91 posted on 07/14/2006 3:01:04 PM PDT by Kimmers
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To: gate2wire

Calder is looking pretty good for tomorrow, eh?


92 posted on 07/14/2006 3:10:39 PM PDT by angkor
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To: Doohickey
I do wonder. Since he is insured they could have put him down and collected it. Or is it a matter of taking a chance on getting a lot more return on the investment in stud fees....any thoughts from informed freepers?
93 posted on 07/14/2006 3:17:00 PM PDT by Kimmers
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To: Hildy

Thank You!


94 posted on 07/14/2006 3:21:38 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: daviscupper
First, if the horse survives Barbaro will make a fortune in stud fees for its owners. The last Kentucky Derby winner studded out just dandy. I saw on a 60 Minutes news item that the horse had two "dates" per day at a $100,000 per date. That means the horse probably studded out for $50-60 million in the first year.

I read yesterday that his back leg isn't likely to be able to bear his weight to be used as a stud.

And second, Barbaro is insured for around $30 million. So there is a financial incentive of around $20-30 million to keep this horse alive.

Which means they could have had him destroyed on the track and collected 30$ mil.

95 posted on 07/14/2006 3:25:27 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: angkor

Big day tomorrow.

Couple horses on my Watch List, the Claiming Crown at Canterbury, and as you noted, the Sprint Championship at Calder.


96 posted on 07/14/2006 4:24:18 PM PDT by gate2wire ("Not the Craw, the Craw.")
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To: Wolfstar

Probably not. Plus being set to stud is not the delight most folks here seem to think it is - there are stallions that have to be driven out of their vans to "do their duty." They actually get very irritable.

I think Barbaro has heart and I hope he makes it through. I spent a fortune and so many hours I can't even count them with my totally worthless (in monetary terms) gelding after his leg injury, but I was so happy when he made his unexpected recovery that it was compensation enough. Now he's living out in the country with a family that loves him and lets their little boy ride him down the road to the Post Office every day. That's probably what Barbaro would prefer.


97 posted on 07/14/2006 4:32:25 PM PDT by livius
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To: livius
That's probably what Barbaro would prefer.

Sigh. This whole journey he's been on since that leg shattered is remarkable. It's remarkable that they didn't put him down that night, and that's he's survived this long before the major complications set in. It's remarkable that he's tolerated everything so well considering he's a young stallion. If he could wind up an easy life out in the country like your gelding, that would be the most remarkable thing of all.

98 posted on 07/14/2006 5:27:24 PM PDT by Wolfstar (Where you go with me, heaven will always be.)
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To: Wolfstar

I agree. Horses are so wonderful. My little guy was doing dressage but what he really likes is hanging out and being a very large pet - and after his near-death experience, he's finally achieved his dream.


99 posted on 07/14/2006 5:33:25 PM PDT by livius
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To: daviscupper

I've pretty much accepted that it may not happen. I have my own dream, though, but it probably can't happen, either. It's also against the rules, but it's physically possible.

I want to see little Barbarites in the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All-American Futurities. But I might have to change that to "futilities." I just want to see little Barbaros, whether they're qualified to race *anywhere* or not. They will be VSH's - Very Special Horses.


100 posted on 07/14/2006 6:44:08 PM PDT by Rte66
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