Lessons learned from Barbaro

[spindrifter]

by Dean W. Richardson, D.V.M.

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In my experience, the unique feature to Barbaro's case is that we have managed to at least get this far despite two simultaneous problems. Each of them alone often has been cause for euthanasia. I think it is a fair statement to say that our management challenges concerning Barbaro's care and treatment have been more difficult than the specific intraoperative surgical challenges.

Another aspect of Barbaro's case that has been different is that there have been literally no bounds as to what we could try to keep him comfortable as we attempted to save his life. Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson always have been willing to do whatever it would take, as long as the horse stayed comfortable. I hope the public at large has come to realize that there are horse owners out there like the Jacksons who are truly interested in doing the right thing for their horses.

A third important component of Barbaro's care has been the meticulous feeding program we have had him on from the outset. One of the most important considerations in a horse convalescing from a major injury is to get enough nutrition into him. Many hospitalized horses do not eat enough, and those that have suffered severe weight loss are not willing to eat as well as they need to eat.

So we have been meticulous in trying to make sure that he eats a very high-calorie, high-protein diet with appropriate supplements. We have paid close attention to that because, as any racehorse trainer will tell you, there is little chance to make a really good athlete out of a horse that does not eat well.

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http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/commentary/commentary.asp#viewpoints

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Dr. Richardson makes some very interesting comments on his experiences with Barbaro's care...not viewing his own surgical accomplishments as all that unusual for the field, not seeing Barbaro's case as making that much impact as a teaching case. Nevertheless, he does not minimize the challenge and emphasizes the importance of the team--veterinarians, the Jacksons and the horse himself--as well as the rest of the folks involved in Barbaro's care.

[Kelly Rupert]

1. Lesson learned from Barbaro:

An injured horse can receive more news coverage over a year than a genocide does.

[Heewack]

2. That's probably a good thing.

Being bombarded by violence all of the time is not healthy.

[Mend]

3. it reminds people of our basic humanity and the values of

caring and generosity. Hopefully they then make the connection to the larger world.

[spindrifter]

4. I have a different opinion about that--

the news about a number of genocides--there is more that one--is there. The distinction is that too many people's senses are deadened to the genocides. The turn away from the horror of people exterminating other people because of ancient feuds, religious differences, inequities in power.
The horse has a message of hope and a lot of people would like to take that message to heart.
There is room for both messages, as well as a need for both.

[kestrel91316]

5. Excessive portrayal of anyone's SUFFERING and DEATH and MAIMING

is nothing short of pornographic. We are well aware of what is going on in MANY places around the world. We don't need a steady diet of tragedy in order to care.

[aaronbees]

6. Barbaro's message is one of hope indeed

It's a fascinating reflection by Dr. Richardson. Frankly, I think he's being modest about the impact. I'd wager that this story will hasten some reforms in racing and, through someting like the Barbaro Fund and the Laminitis Fund, make saving horses with catastrophic injuries a more attractive and feasible route in the future. That needs to happen now. I'd be interested to see if down the road the team is more forthcoming about the pain management techniques employed; that seems to have been one of the keys to making it this far, along with Barbaro's great temperment and intelligence.

And Dr. Richardson gets it right, too: Barbaro made the choice to go on. That's what I always get back to -- his incredible, incredible will. Reading between the lines, I think they were probably very close to putting him down in July, and now his possible move out of New Bolton is being discussed! Amazing.

Here are some photos of him: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/BarbaroPhotos.htm

He looks good for a frisky guy cooped up in a stall for 7 months, though you can tell the back right leg is a little askew.