Lessons Learned From Barbaro
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's greatest impact might be the future well-being of thoroughbreds.
"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."
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "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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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.
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.
"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.
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 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
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.