Lessons Learned From Barbaro
Fight To Save Racehorse Advanced Equine Medicine's Understanding Of Leg Injuries
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Video
Horseracing Expert On Barbaro
Mike Curry, daily news editor for Thoroughbred Times magazine, discusses with Hannah Storm the decision to euthanize Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
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Mourning Continues For Barbaro
Sadness continues over the death of thoroughbred champion Barbaro. Eight months after breaking his hind leg at the Preakness, the horse was euthanized. Veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner reports.
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Long Faces As Barbaro Put Down
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro captivated a nation as he struggled to overcome his life-threatening injuries. But he had to be euthanized on Monday. Debbye Turner reports.
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Photo
Dr. Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center for Large Animals, lets Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro graze, Sept. 26, 2006 in Kennett Square, Pa. (AP Photo)
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Photo Essay
Barbaro
The Kentucky Derby winner is euthanized after setbacks in recovery from broken leg.
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Timeline
Barbaro's Struggle
Follow the course of events in the gallant colt's struggle to survive catastrophic injury.
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The Triple Crown
Past winners and a closer look at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
"There have been an awful lot of positives," co-owner Roy Jackson said at a news conference Monday, just hours after Barbaro was euthanized after a series of ailments, including laminitis in three feet.
"Veterinary medicine has learned a great deal, the general public has been educated and a host of issues have been addressed. Our hope is that some of these issues won't die."
Barbaro's fight for survival was extraordinary in several ways: The three bones he shattered in his right rear leg at the Preakness more than eight months ago had completely healed; state-of-the-art technology allowed him to endure a grueling series of surgeries and pool recoveries; he rested comfortably in body slings; and he handled constant cast changes.
"Even though this is a very sad ending, I think overall it's been a positive experience," Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, said. "It's taught people what can be done, and there will probably be horses in the future who will live based on what happened with Barbaro."
Although horses with similar injuries have recovered in the past, none was as prominent as Barbaro, who won all six of his races before the horrifying 2006 Preakness breakdown.
The colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated. Richardson said the pastern bone was shattered in "20-plus pieces."
Barbaro pulled through the complicated five-hour surgery during which Richardson inserted a titanium plate and 27 screws into the broken bones. It was the first of nearly two dozen surgeries and other procedures, including cast changes under anesthesia.
In many cases, horses with such severe injuries would be euthanized on the spot. But Jackson and his wife Gretchen chose to spare no expense and sent their colt directly from Baltimore to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center about two hours away. That's where Dr. Dean Richardson tried to save Barbaro.
It almost happened.
Had it not been for laminitis — the dreaded hoof disease caused by uneven weight distribution in the limbs — he likely would have pulled through.
"This was a very near thing," Arthur said. "If it hadn't been for the last cascade of complications, I think this could have been successful. The key thing is the fracture healed. It was laminitis to the left hind that started the sequence of events that led to his demise."
Richardson choked back tears Monday when he described his final minutes with Barbaro.
"Barbaro had many, many good days," he said.
Richardson emphasized he'd learned a great deal and would be better equipped to handle a horse with the same injury.
"I honestly believe I would have a better chance to save his life, because I would probably not make the same mistakes," Richardson said. "I'm sure I made mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, or know of things you could have done better."
Richardson also learned how to better manage a horse's pain throughout the difficult medical procedures, reported The Early Show's veterinary correspondent Dr. Debbye Turner.
In a way, Barbaro has championed other causes. Celeste Kunz, a vet with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said the colt's plight could bring more funding for laminitis research. The Jacksons have been outspoken in their support to stop the slaughter of horses.
Several vets said they believe other owners now might consider trying to save an injured horse.
"People who have a horse injured may now stop and say there might be a treatment out there," said Larry Bramlage, a vet at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. "Never before has there been a horse of such prominence treated like this. Barbaro will make people aware they should investigate their options."
But, cost is still an issue. The Jacksons spent tens of thousands of dollars.
"I think the Jacksons can certainly be comfortable and confident they did absolutely everything they could to save this horse," Mike Curry, daily news editor of the Thoroughbred Times, told The Early Show.
Curry dismissed the idea that the Jacksons spared no cost to save Barbaro because of the horse's potential value for breeding. Curry said the insurance policy on Barbaro was probably higher than his stud value since the horse suffered devastating leg injuries.
"I don't think you go and pick grass twice a day for a horse when it's about the money," Curry said. "This was a horse that they really cared for and was near and dear to their heart."
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If you do not know what you are talking about then don't talk.
He was not kept alive to make them more money He was kept alive out of love for the animal.
It is very clear that you have never loved a animal do deeply that you would do anything to keep him alive. If Barbaro would have went to Stud that would have been great, because then the linage would have continued, We lost Secretariat, and have very few of his get to carry on his blood, we now just lost one of the greatest horses to ever race and will never see another one like him. I have ridden racehorses, excercised them at a track, and they have so much heart they want to run, when you ask them to EXTEND THEIR STRIDE AND THEY DO IT FOR YOU IT IS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO RUN AND WIN It is what they are bred to due. Accidents happen not only to race horses but to back yard saddle horses as well. I tried to save my sons Mule when she colicked, by the time the vet got to her it was to late, she was only 13 years old,she may of had a chance with deep set pain management. With it there will be more of a chance of saving more of our best friends. You don't just put down your best friend, you try to save him.
thanks
susane miller
amherst nh
Sadly a question: Who has been brave enough to say the entire fault lies with the owner? Everything always comes from the top down.
Also, when a horse stumbles out of the starting gate, you immediately pull the horse. You don't let it continue running where it contributes to injuries.
I believe that the vet facility acted like a learning lab and treated Barbaro like a lab experiment.
When will horse racing face all of its shameful practices? Without these shameful practices, there would be no industry.
We - as friends of animals - need to become aware of the industry/financial incentive and to band together to oppose it.
Maybe no one is blaming the owners because no one is absolutely positive about what exactly caused the injury. All I know is that I own a dog, who is like my child.....I appreciate the fact that the owners did everything possible to save this horse! I can't even begin to imagine the costs associated with the care he received (how you figure he was kept for financial reasons is beyond me). And as for the vet and the other staff that worked with Barbaro...you are wonderful!!!!! Thank you for giving him the best care possible and for knowing when it was time to let him go.....
I have read comments about Barbaro stumbling out of the starting gate. Those who have made this comment, apparently didn't watch the video. He didn't stumble coming out of the gate.
This was a great horse and I commend his owners for doing ALL they could for him. I know their pain will not be forgotten either.
According to an article I read, Jockey Club rules, which regulate the American thoroughbreds, prohibit use of artificial insemination in the breeding of thoroughbreds.
%u201CThe idea of Barbaro's owners keeping him alive for the money is so far out there that those who thnk it don't know anything about the love a person can have for their animals. I have several animals the I consiter my kids and I would sell everything I own to help them.%u201D---------
While this may very well be true I suspect most would kill and eat those same animals, any animals, if they were placed in a situation where they were starving and had no other food source. However, even if they would die rather than eat the animals it would not be because of the animals.
The bottom line in human nature is, every action we take in life is totally self-centered--- (that is NOT to say selfish in the general sense of the word)---. This includes anything from donating to a worthy cause to giving up your own life to save others.
A young soldier recently threw himself on top of a hand grenade and saved the lives of some of his comrades for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I can imagine no greater, UNSELFISH, deed than this, nor one more worthy of the award.
Yet he did this because of HIS honorable character, HIS genuine love for his fellow soldiers and he did it without hesitation because for HIM it was the right thing to do.
Unfortunately too many do dishonorable things from the same self-centered position.
Everything we say and do is a reflection on our own character.
I put racing 3-year olds right up there with *** fighting.
I'd be curious to find out about artificial insemination. When I was a teenager my then-boyfriend-now-husband's mother owned several Tennessee Walking horses. I was fortunate enough to see the magnificent Carbondale in retirement and thought I remembered hearing that seminal fluid was collected for the purpose of AI.
Fox News ran a story -
Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro Euthanized After Numerous Injuries - where the statement was made about the rules for thoroughbreds. I don't breed horses, I was simply bringing the comment to the board's attention because so many people seem to think they were trying to save him simply for the money. If the news statement is correct....then they were trying to save him because he was a wonderful horse and they do care about him.
I feel very sad for Dr. Richardson and his Staff. BARBARO is such a loss to all of them. They took care of BARBARO everyday for over eight months. I know they are all hurting and feeling a heart wrenching loss. I am sure it was the most difficult thing that Dr. Richardson had to do in his life. You could see in all the press coverages and all the pictures of BARBARO and Dr. Richardson,the two of then together, how much he loved him. I followed all the updates on BARBARO for the past eight months. I feel such a loss. BARBARO is in a better place. GOD BLESS HIM! We are all blessed to have known BARBARO.
Darlyne R. Jobmann
It's so funny how negative EVERYTHING is in the news, and then when a story like this comes out immediately people jump all over the owners' motives without knowing a dam thing about them and having never met them!
The SAME people think NOTHING of buying those nice STEAKS and lamb chops for dinner on nice white plastic trays- all the DIRTY brutality, blood and death of the animal cleaned away but that's ok because they LIKE veal cutlets and don't care if an animal was raised in a 2 foot wide box so it couldnt stand up, then skinned alive at the slaughterhouse to GET that meat.
Hypocracy at it's best!
"I don't think you go and pick grass twice a day for a horse when it's about the money," Curry said. "This was a horse that they really cared for and was near and dear to their heart."
READ the above again and let it sink in.
Posted by scullymom "
Who cares about a President who hasn't been President for 30 years? Teens and anyone under 40 could care less- he was ancient history,not even "connected" to today, here and now or people's lives- especially teens any more than Woodrow Wilson.
4 people died in a gas explosion, so what? they according to those biBULL thumpers here go right to HEAVEN in new bods,so let's REJOYCE Jallelujah they is seated at the right hand (or is it the left?) of da fadda!! da MAN!! the big cheeze!
Now, back to the story at hand HERE- BARBARO, there's another thread for the gas people, use it, this one is for people who care about animals in general and in this case in particular.
Their staff was overwhelmed with the volumn of calls and all else on Barbaro so they set up a web page for him.
What yall SHOULD be doing instad of attacking the owners or the University is ask WHY 8 months of intensive care, multiple surgery and all the rest cost ONLY tens of thousands when you KNOW that human hospitals would cost a hundred times more!
Ask why a late friend of mine who had a brain tumor wound up costing her husband's insurance over $1,000,000 when all was said and done with her treatment and chemo (she died anyway)
Ask WHY human health care is so dam expensive few can afford it unless they have mega good insurance that costs hundreds a MONTH, while top notch state of the art veterinary care like this at New Bolton
costs ONLY tens of thousands for over 8 months of care.
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by katwoman
February 2, 2007 5:44 PM PST
- Thank God for people like the Jackson's who love their pet enough to do what they can to save him. Every day I hear about some horror story of someone doing some horrific act to an animal; or worse yet neglecting them. Animals are to be loved and cared for by us, not abused. Until you have loved and been loved by an animal you do not understand that unique relationship between the owner and that animal. A love for a beloved pet can be greater or as great as the love for a family member, so please give the Jackson's a break. They just had to make a very difficult decision and I am sure that they are greiving over Barbaro as many of us who have followed his care are.
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