In Tribute of Barbaro

I forget exactly how I found this article, and it is slightly on the longer side, but if you're like me and cared about his story at all, do yourself a favor and take some time to read this beautifully written piece on Barbaro by Nancy Armour, a sports columnist at the Seatle Post-Intelligencer.

Barbaro's Legacy

While Barbaro may have lost his brave fight yesterday after suffering a career-ending injury in the Preakness last May, besides his captivating and inspirational fight to survive, it seems that the treatments and rehabilitation he received over the past 8 months may mean significant progress for other injured horses.

Besides bringing more awareness to the specific injury itself, Barbaro's story also may help fund research for laminitis, a condition he acquired as a result of uneven weight distribution in his limbs, and show people that euthanasia is neither the immediate nor the only option when it comes to injured equine.

Says Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, "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."

You can read more about the story, here.

Barbaro

Some very sad news...

I am extremely saddened to report that after fighting very valiantly to recover from his injury and the complications that resulted from it last May, the beautiful Barbaro was euthanized. It seems that the recent setbacks, particularly one this past weekend, necessitating more surgery, caused the courageous colt to suffer pain and discomfort, and Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his owners, made the decision after he had a difficult night.

"And finally, O MASTER, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured or starved to death; but do thou, my MASTER, take my life in the kindest way. And your GOD will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of HIM, who was born in a stable. Amen."

~from "The Horse's Prayer"

Barbaro

I believe in Barbaro

Remember Barbaro? The promising young colt had many excited for the possibility of a Triple Crown winner in 06 before suffering an almost unbearable to watch injury in the first few lengths of the Preakness last May. After undergoing surgery to repair the 3 bones that were shattered in his right hind leg, he developed a condition called laminitis a few months later. This condition, caused by uneven weight distribution, is common among horses with this injury and is life threatening due to the effects of separation of tissue in the hoof wall. Now, after months of treatment for the laminitis, which included removal of a significant portion of Barbaro's hoof, he suffered a setback a few days ago due to the laminitis. Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center had to remove more tissue from the affected foot as well as change his cast. Since the recent surgery, doctors have performed new X-rays that show no new complications in either leg, and the horse is still eating well and moving on his own to the best of his abilities. You can read more about this postive sign here.

As an animal lover and a former horse-back riding enthusiast, I have been keeping an eye on the courageous Barbaro since his initial accident in May 20, 2006. You can be sure that any and all updates I can find will be hosted here as I continue to hope for the best for this brave-hearted horse. You can also find a variety of resources, including updates, photo galleries, FAQs, and other information at University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center website, which has a link at the very bottom of the page for fans to send Barbaro your good wishes.

Barbaro