Barbaro walks outside, grazing on grass

[a kennedy]

PHILADELPHIA — How's this for a breath of fresh air? Barbaro is enjoying daily outings outside his intensive care stall to pick his own grass, enjoy the warm weather and stretch his recovering legs.

ON DEADLINE: Share your thoughts

Barbaro stepped outside his ICU stall and started daily walks on a grassy area near the unit last week for the first time since having catastrophic injuries in the Preakness nearly three months ago. The Kentucky Derby winner, also recovering from a severe case of laminitis on his left hoof, continues to show signs he's on the road to recovery.

"It's a big step just to know he feels good enough that you can take him out of the stall and walk him around like a normal horse and he eats grass like a normal horse," Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the New Bolton Center, said Monday. "That doesn't mean he's healed. It just means things are going well right now."

The 3-year-old had made only a couple of brief walks back and forth from his stall to the surgery room at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center until last week. Now Barbaro is walked daily for about 15 to 20 minutes in a secluded area not far from the George D. Widener Hospital ICU.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2006-08-14-barbaro-progress_x.htm

[calico1]

1. That is such wonderful news.

He had been so ill and close to being put down according to what I had read. I was afraid this would end up as one more sad ending. I'm so glad to hear he is doing better.:)

[wildhorses]

2. HEY Barbaro...you suberb example of excellent hoss flesh

I love you like no other

may you one day run again with the wild horses

no MAN ever again upon your back!!!

[lost-in-nj]

3. I have that song

on my Ipod.....


The funny thing is I own a horse and I am madly in love with him :)
We treat each other with respect.

And he loves carrots and starlight mints.





lost

[wildhorses]

4. of course you love your horse

but, Barbaro is not your typical one owner horse...

I would LOVE to own a horse again and if I have my way I will but, Barbaro running free what a sight that will be...

[lost-in-nj]

8. Your right

He is not your typical horse.
At the barn where we keep our horse, there is a 30 yr old gelding.
I met his owners the other day, they come and give him treats and turn him out.
THats what his days are full of now, running, eating and sleeping.
He deserves it. And so does Barbaro.
The only problem is they want to breed Barbaro and to be eligible for the Triple crown a horse has to be conceived the "natural" way.
They cannot do artificial insemination. So he has to do a little work if he can mount a mare.....

lost

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. What INCREDIBLY good news!

Thank you for bringing it to our attention, my dear a kennedy!

I was so afraid that this wonderful horse would be losing his life......

And now it looks as though he will live after all!

May he always have green pastures to roam in.........:bounce: :bounce:

[Kajsa]

6. I'm so happy for Barbaro!

I too, was worried that he would not pull through.

He's one remarkable horse who deserves to live his life
out in peace and happiness.

Thank you for the good news, a Kennedy.

[Beausoir]

7. What a tough horse. He's really endured a lot of pain and sickness.

Fingers crossed for his recovery. He's beautiful.

[xchrom]

9. you rock Barbaro! you can do it!

i love this horse -- he is made of mighty, mighty stuff!

he's gonna do it this horse -- and he's gonna write a better future for other injured horses doing it -- i just know he can do this!