Tuesday, January 30th, 2007...5:38 am
Barbaro: A Legacy in Equine History and Medicine
The news came down yesterday that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was put to sleep yesterday at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, after his nearly 8 month battle to rehabilitate him from a catastrophic injury which happened two weeks later during the running of the Preakness Stakes. I know from following the story and news updates from UPenn, Dr. Richardson and the team at Penn Vet Med, as well has his owners Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and his trainer, Michael Matz did everything possible to bring Barbaro back to a full recovery. It was out of love they made the heart wrenching decision to let him go.
Many have questioned why put this much cash and effort into saving a horse? Well if you have to ask, you do not know real horse people. The love of the animal is more than the investment potential. Knowing the reputation of the Jackson’s it wasn’t for the money. Barbaro could never be bred via artificial means and maintain value. Knowing the reputation of Dr. Richardson it wasn’t ego. (Yes he’s a Dartmouth ‘74,) He’s renown for being brutally honest about the prognosis of a horse and one of the top equine surgeons in the world. No, trying to save Barbaro’s life was done because his doctor’s and owners’s pure love of a horse, who was despite his injuries, was recovering with more metal in his leg than most furniture contains. It was the damn Lamintis, a complication to his other leg, that was impossible to get controlled that finally did Barbaro in. Lamintis is a disease that kills a considerable number of horses per year.
Barbaro’s injury and treatment has far reaching implications to the betterment of Veterinary Medicine. I hope it steers more people into the field. Veterinarians treat many species of animals and in my opinion harder than human medicine. The lessons we have learned in Barbaro’s treatment and care will help Medicine as they utilize this knowledge for the good of other species of animals and mankind. Through Barbaro’s care we probably have learned something that will save many more lives.
To support the work at Univ Penn’s Equine Programs, you can donate to The Barbaro Fund. or the Lamintis Research Fund.
Photo credits go to www.sabinalouisepierce.com
Tags: Barbaro, Dr. Dean Richardson, Michael Matz, Gretchen Roy Jackson, Edgar Prado, University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary Medicine, Equine Medicine, Lamintis, Sabina Pierce, Kentucky Derby
Follow up: Painter Ashley Cecil has done this lovely oil painting of Barbaro, called "Remembering a much loved Barbaro." She has put the painting up for sale. Ashley is donating some of the money from the sale to ReRun in memory of Barbaro.
