Should Barbaro be put down?

[blackfordpu]

Thoughts on if the horse should be put down? It seems like just because he can't race anymore they are going to kill him just so they don't have to take care of him.

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.

"He had a good night last night, and even slept on his side," Dr. Dean Richardson told The Associated Press early Friday before re-entering the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals to check again on the 3-year-colt. "He's doing much better."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/more/07/14/barbaro.better.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

[JBB]

They said the would put him down if he was in pain. They dont want to put him down. They have spent who knows how much money just keeping him alive. If that had been any other horse it would have been euthanised on the track. Its a sad truth about horses. They dont usually live long with a broken leg.

[blackfordpu]

They said the would put him down if he was in pain. They dont want to put him down. They have spent who knows how much money just keeping him alive. If that had been any other horse it would have been euthanised on the track. Its a sad truth about horses. They dont usually live long with a broken leg.

That is what I don't understand, why is a broken leg fatal to a horse that lives in captivity. It isn't like they have to search for food or run from predators.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Thoughts on if the horse should be put down? It seems like just because he can't race anymore they are going to kill him just so they don't have to take care of him.


From the moment the horse took a bad step in the Preakness there was never a chance he was going to race again. Barbaro is, however, worth millions of dollars in stud fees if they are able to save him - I don't think the owners have any issue with taking care of him. They will only look toward putting the horse down as a humane alternative if the horse is suffering and chances of improvement are slim.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

That is what I don't understand, why is a broken leg fatal to a horse that lives in captivity. It isn't like they have to search for food or run from predators.

Horses can't lie down for any extended period of time - their body weight is too great and they will suffocate. They have to live their entire lives standing on all fours. Because of this, it is very difficult for a broken leg on a horse to have a chance to heal. More often than not complications occur, the leg never heals and the horse lives in constant pain.

[JBB]

Exactly. He is a valuable horse at stud and his seamen is being collected now, Im sure.

A horse cant stand on three legs and, as mentioned, they cant lie down long. They have to be suspended with a belly harness and imobilized. Its very difficult, expensive and hard on the horse. Often it fails anyway.

Kacys Shadow is a great movie about a top notch race horse that breaks its leg and gets saved.

[OL FU]

Man are my eyes getting bad. :rotateh:

I thought the thread was going to be about Streisand:o

[dbackjon]

Man are my eyes getting bad. :rotateh:

I thought the thread was going to be about Streisand:o


And you eagerly opened the thread to add your Hells Yeah?? :)

[Proud Griz Man]

I hope he can make it, but it didn't sound good yesterday. :(


Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.

"He had a good night last night, and even slept on his side," Dr. Dean Richardson told The Associated Press early Friday before re-entering the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals to check again on the 3-year-colt. "He's doing much better."
Richardson appeared a bit more upbeat than he was Thursday, when he told a packed news conference that Barbaro has a severe case of the disease laminitis in his left hind leg, and termed his condition "poor."
Barbaro looked every bit the champion Thursday, but it's how he acts in the next few days that will determine how much longer he lives.
Laminitis, Richardson said, is an "exquisitely painful" condition, and Barbaro has a case so bad that 80 percent of the Derby winner's left hoof wall was removed Wednesday. It could take as long as six months for the hoof to grow back. The disease is often caused by uneven weight distribution to a limb, usually because of serious injury to another.

[OL FU]

And you eagerly opened the thread to add your Hells Yeah?? :)

You know I kinda like Streisand back in her cute ass days:smiley_wi

[foghorn]

Exactly. He is a valuable horse at stud and his seamen is being collected now, Im sure.

A horse cant stand on three legs and, as mentioned, they cant lie down long. They have to be suspended with a belly harness and imobilized. Its very difficult, expensive and hard on the horse. Often it fails anyway.

Kacys Shadow is a great movie about a top notch race horse that breaks its leg and gets saved.

Barbaro's semen is not being collected. It is illegal in the thoroughbred racing industry to artificially inseminate. A mare must be 'covered' for impregnation. Hey, good for them.
Also, it is a misnomer to assume Barbaro will be worth millions as a sire. Initially, his yearlings or stud fee might be quite expensive, but it's only after his first or second crop have actually run, will a fair market price be determined. Don't forget, the greatest thoroughbred of all time, the mighty Secretariat, was a huge disappointment as a sire. His sons and daughters were not big money earners on the track. On the other hand, a so-so runner, relative to Secretariat, Storm Cat, gets 500k for a live foal. His offspring flat out win!
Barbaro will be kept alive as long as he is not in constant pain. It is not a business decision. Not everything revolves around money, and Barbaro's owners are both grateful and truly fond of the animal as is the public at large. Barbaro has to grow a new hoof on his non-injured foot as his was destroyed due to laminitis. If he can't, then he'll be humanely destroyed to rid him of any further pain. Such is life. :(

[bluehenbillk]

If Barbaro doesn't make it hopefully his family tradition does. I live right in Barbaro's backyard, less than 15 minutes from the hospital he's at. There was an article in the local paper this week that his younger brother is beginning his race training this summer.

[Obzerver]

Elmers said they would take care of him...

[wannabegaucho]

Not funny.

[blackfordpu]

Not funny.

funny in a dark, twisted sort of way.xidiotx

[ngineer]

They just finished a new article on local Phila. TV about Barbaro--he's much improved today, though still in very serious condition. Shown with an excellent appetite and good spirits. If they're willing to spend the money, and the horse is not suffering, then it's okay to keep treating; but if they hit the wall, and the horse will never walk, again, then they will have to put him down. ..:(

[blukeys]

Horses can't lie down for any extended period of time - their body weight is too great and they will suffocate. They have to live their entire lives standing on all fours. Because of this, it is very difficult for a broken leg on a horse to have a chance to heal. More often than not complications occur, the leg never heals and the horse lives in constant pain.


SunCoast is on target an adult horse will eventually die if it can't stand on it's own. You will only see fillies and colts actually laying down for any extended period of time.

In addition Barbaro's condition has long standing problems. The condition he has will require extensive medical monitoring even if they can keep him alive. Had he not won the Derby the plug would have already been pulled on this horse.

[blukeys]

Barbaro's semen is not being collected. It is illegal in the thoroughbred racing industry to artificially inseminate. A mare must be 'covered' for impregnation. Hey, good for them.
Also, it is a misnomer to assume Barbaro will be worth millions as a sire. Initially, his yearlings or stud fee might be quite expensive, but it's only after his first or second crop have actually run, will a fair market price be determined. Don't forget, the greatest thoroughbred of all time, the mighty Secretariat, was a huge disappointment as a sire. His sons and daughters were not big money earners on the track. On the other hand, a so-so runner, relative to Secretariat, Storm Cat, gets 500k for a live foal. His offspring flat out win!
Barbaro will be kept alive as long as he is not in constant pain. It is not a business decision. Not everything revolves around money, and Barbaro's owners are both grateful and truly fond of the animal as is the public at large. Barbaro has to grow a new hoof on his non-injured foot as his was destroyed due to laminitis. If he can't, then he'll be humanely destroyed to rid him of any further pain. Such is life. :(

Better said then anything I could say. :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: