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Monday afternoon at Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, Dr. Dean Richardson explained the events leading up to the decison to humanely euthanize Barbaro's life.
After a risky procedure to relieve his hind legs, Barbaro had what Richardson called a "difficult night" where "the biggest thing that happened in the last 24 hours was that he did develop fairly severe laminitis in both front feet" leaving Barbaro without a good foot to stand on. Barbaro would not lie down and was not comfortable standing up, Richardson said. "He's a horse that, for months, has been an exceptionally quiet, calm, and relaxed horse. He would sleep. We could go in there (his stall) and work on him. He would lie down and get up. Last night was the first night ever that he was clearly distressed by his condition. We intensified all his pain medications pretty dramatically last night, trying to get him to go down, and he did not . We put him in another sling. Again, I want to emphasize that we stated and we meant what we said, if we couldn't control his discomfort, we wouldn't go on, and that was why the decision (to euthanize him) was made."
Barbaro's original injuries to his right hind, which occurred in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, had completely healed, according to Richardson. The colt's recent problems were from the painful laminitis the horse developed in his left hind leg. Laminitis is a common problem for horses, particularly when one leg is injured an another leg has to bear the extra stresses.
The laminitis in Barbaro's left hind foot caused him to become "very lame," Richardson said, and Barbaro's right hind leg was forced to bear a "tremendous amount" of weight.
"He developed a pretty severe bruise on the outside heel of his right hind foot," Richardson said. "He was bearing so much weight on that leg because he was getting off in his left hind. The consequence of that deep bruise on the outside of his right hind foot is that he ended up with an abscess under the sole in the heel region of his foot. The foot is not the location where he had his fractures. His fractures were in his pastern and fetlock region, which are above that.
"It was this right hind foot that started the (latest) problem. He developed laminitis in both front feet, the reason being he had no hind feet (to support him). He was uncomfortable behind, and then he started overloading his front feet."
A customized external fixation device was placed in his right hind leg in a final attempt to save Barbaro's life.
"This type of situation is like a deck of cards," Richardson said. "Sometimes, when things are that tenuous, if one thing starts to go, you've got other parts that go as well. That's essentially what happened."
Richardson added that he was "as comfortable as I'm likely to get" about the decision to euthanize Barbaro. "I feel it was the right thing to do now," the surgeon said. "I can assure you in many cases I have personally had in the past, I know I waited too long. I don't think that's the case here."
According to The Associated Press, Roy Jackson, who along with his wife, Gretchen Jackson, owned the colt, said: "We just reached a point where it was going to be difficult for him to go on without pain. It was the right decision, it was the right thing to do. We said all along if there was a situation where it would become more difficult for him then it would be time."
Barbaro enjoyed eating some grass on his final morning. "We were all there," said Richardson. "He was in a sling, and he was comfortable in the sense he was on a lot of (pain) medication. But he was alert, aware, and he knew the Jacksons. Basically, what happened, he was given a very heavy dose of tranquilizer first (intravenously), and then he was given an overdose of an anesthetic. It could not have been any more peaceful."
According to Richardson, Barbaro provided a learning experience that could help to save other horses with similar injuries. "If I had a horse with the same fracture come in tomorrow, I honestly believe I would have a better chance of saving his life because I would think I would probably not make the same mistakes. I'm sure I made mistakes."
Barbaro's life could have ended on the track at Pimlico, but he was given a chance, and he took it. "Barbaro had eight or nine months (following his injury), the vast majority of which he he was a happy horse," Richardson said.
As a horse racing fan I greatly admired Barbaro. He was a strong, long-legged horse, who showed great character and spirit. It was part of what made it so exciting to see him win the 2006 Kentucky Derby. As the grueling mile and a quarter race finished his 19 competitors, Barbaro forged ahead boldy to finish the race with the longest Derby lead in 60 years. Barbaro's admirable character--perfectly embodied in his athleticism--was also what made it so hard to see what happened to him at the Preakness Stakes. But as his strength shone through and he walked again, he gave alot of us horse racing fans strength.
The undefeated 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro never gave up. I think Barbaro the Bold and the Brave would have tried to keep standing on those long legs of his until the bones turned to dust. If there is a race horse valhalla for all the greats, somewhere Secretariat and the gang are feeling very humbled right now.
Go get 'em, Barbaro.
--Ghost Moth
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