I hope this horse lives man.....I hope this horse leaves please pray for him

I've been following the case closely, I had stopped watching horse races a long time ago after witnessing in live tv the horrific scene of Ruffian running a race against Foolish Pleasure, on just a leg bone.

Since then however, they have made some amazing headway in horse care. The best thing going for Barbaro was that the skin was not broken on his leg and this at least was critical in terms of risk of infection. It gives him a huge chance for living.

Also, he did not struggle when he finally got stopped and quietly let them put on the temporary cast and lead him into the ambulance. This courage and quiet also helped minimize further damage to his leg and gives him an even better chance for survival.

They put a plate in his leg and 23 bolts to hold his leg together around the ankle area, he had over 20 breaks in all, which is huge including a dislocated ankle (fetlock) in the same leg.

He's feeling much better today and is walking a bit and keeping good weight on his new foot which is excellent. He's eating well and seems interested in the nearby mares.

His recovery at this point is still 50/50, due to the severity of the breakages, and his next risks are laminitis in his other rear leg or other legs due to too much weight pressing the toe bone through the hoof (painful and ultimately can be fatal), infection from surgery, nerve regeneration and proper blood supply.

Still, so far so good and many people have been leaving well wishing signs around along with treats outside the animal hospital where he'll be recuperating for next few weeks or more.

Although I can do nothing but watch and wait, I really feel personally he has an excellent chance and himself has the heart to try.

What awful thing to see on the news, it was heartbreaking.

I also hope he lives

i've been watching this, too. :(
really hoping he makes it through this.

I have been watching this and I love horses
hard to see a horse in pain like that.
I hope he is okay
I have a soft spot for animals.

He's doing really well so far, resting nicely, feeling quite chipper, munching on apples and carrots from his fans and nickering at the "ladies".

the surgeon says he'll be in horsie ICU for quite a while to make sure things do take a bad turn...in about 3 months if he's still this good the surgeon says he'll be ecstatic.

Keep going, Barbaro!

I dont know I was almost in tears during the race broke my heart.

Are those of you who are so upset about this horse vegetarians?

huh? I don't like to see anyone--human or animal--suffering. I also like vegetables, but I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.

Oh...did I actually post that...I need not to come near the computer when I am really doped up on cold medication. I won't even bother trying to explain by thought process behind this...

ok Tara, 'nuff said ;) :)

Just to let you know, Barbaro, that brave young colt has suffered a very severe setback, and he's in a life or death struggle with laminitis, the most feared complication of his accident.

The laminitis developed as a result of him putting too much weight on his left rear leg when he developed some temporary discomfort in his broken leg. The broken leg is mending nicely, but it will be irrelevant if the laminitis cannot be managed.

anyway, here is the connection to Penn Vet Medicine Department where he is staying under critical care at the New Bolton Centre.

It's as bad as it gets, folks.

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro.htm