Some good news from New Bolton Center--Barbaro

[spindrifter]

Barbaro has cast change

August 28, 2006

KENNETT SQUARE, PA —Veterinarians at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital changed the right hind leg cast of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro yesterday, Sunday, August 27. “The cast was changed because there was a small crack in it,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. “Based on new radiographs that were taken, the leg looked excellent under the cast. The pastern joint looks completely fused, and there is only a small area in the long pastern bone that has a little farther to go before we take him out of the cast completely.”

In addition, the radiographs showed that there were no signs of infection. The cast change took place under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had another successful pool recovery before returning to his stall.

The colt’s left hind foot has laminitis, but Barbaro seems comfortable with that foot as well. The bandage on the left hind foot continues to be changed daily.

According to Dr. Richardson: “Barbaro is bright and happy this morning with an excellent appetite.”

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update8-28.htm

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What an inspiration this horse is! I continue to hope for the best and thank these great veterinarians for the extraordinary care they are giving him.

[electropop]

1. Happy to hear it! Last I heard, the news was grim.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Hopefully he'll be up and making babies soon

[CottonBear]

5. Thouroughbreds can only reproduce by live cover.

He'll have to be able to stand on his back legs and mount the mare. (There are about 6 handlers involved with this event so it's not very intimate for the two equines.)

[BOSSHOG]

6. I wish him the best of luck

Six handlers? Sounds like the set of a porn movie.

[CottonBear]

11. Typically, in KY: 2 for the mare, 2 for the stallion, 1 to observe

and one to take a semen sample immediately afterward which they then take to a lab in the barn to determine sperm count and motility. The owners of the mare can watch too! It's not very private at all!

[Surya Gayatri]

12. LOL! Sounds like the Republiks...

(Santorum, for example) would be in their element here. Perverse pleasure at peeping into people's intimate lives. But, Barbaro has too much class to be bothered, I expect. SG

[CottonBear]

13. The stallion is pretty focused on his task! ;) n/t

[CottonBear]

3. Incredible!

He is beign so well cared for and so loved by his people. He is a brave horse with a strong will to live. Most of all, he is very, very lucky. Horses have to be put down all the time for severe laminitis much less shattering their leg.

[NaturalHigh]

4. I love to see some good news once in a while.

I hope he makes a full recovery.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Barbaro is a true star...

and an inspiration to us all--he just keeps on keeping on, in spite of

reverses and setbacks. May he have a long & happy life as the great

stallion he is. SG

Thanks for posting, spin!

[Southsideirish]

8. I hope they have filmed what he has been through - what a motivational

tool for anyone who has been through suffering.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. They Gave This Horse A Chance...

Lots of owners might have given up and decided to save money by having the horse put down months ago.

They put their money where their mouth was, and "ponied" up the dough necessary to rehabilitate him.

I hope things work out for the horse, and that he "gets some" from the female horsies once he's able to, and makes little Barbaro's.

[xchrom]

10. i LOVE this horse!

he really wanted to get beter -- and he's doing it.

what. a. horse. -- he's fantastic.

[Imalittleteapot]

14. Thanks for the update. Remarkable horse.