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Post by janej55uk on Dec 27, 2006 1:36:27 GMT 1
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xxx
Novice Poster
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Post by xxx on Dec 27, 2006 2:02:37 GMT 1
But is it right to put horse through such a long period of recovery with questionable future?
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Post by janetgeorge on Dec 27, 2006 2:13:18 GMT 1
I hope it works out for this horse, it would be amazing if they can get to the point where they can mend legs! It's great news that he's still hanging on in there! Of course, theoretically - and in some cases practically - they've been able to mend legs for years. I remember a very good racehorse in Oz that was saved some 30 years ago - they suspended him in a saline bath for near enough on 3 months. The problem is keeping the limb immobilised enough and preventing the horse from lying down for a very long time. Causes all SORTS of problems - from pressure sores, colics, displacements - you name it. And the cost is enormous - particularly when in most cases a leg will mend enough for a horse to be a paddock ornament rather than return to serious work. Barbaro of course has serious stud potential and if the hind leg mends sufficiently for him to be able to be used for natural covering (AI being disallowed for TBs) then the owners will get their money back in bucketfuls.) |
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 7:29:45 GMT 1
I've been following Barbaro's progress since his fracture, I'm so pleased he's doing so well. xxx - if he can enjoy his life in a field, then surely that's enough for him? Might not be enough for his owners though!  It's a cert that he'll never race again, I think the most they are hoping for is a stud career. |
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Post by sooleo on Dec 27, 2006 8:14:27 GMT 1
I tend to agree with xxx. 7 - 8 months is a long long time for an animal which does not understand the reasons for all thats going on and the pain he must have suffered at various stages.
The work the vet has done is impressive but in my mind the motive of the owner is questionable. Has this been done for the benefit of the horse or for the benefit of the owner?
It's not a procedure I would put my boys throuigh.
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kofihorse
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Oh,such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you
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Post by kofihorse on Dec 27, 2006 11:54:44 GMT 1
Thanks for putting this thread up as I had been wondering what happened to Barbaro. He had his accident not long after the vet told me Kofi's ultimately fatal leg break was normally only seen in racehorses, so that was my interest. I can see why ( valuable stallion = lots of money) the owners are doing everything they can - not sure I agree with it, as others have said, and I don't know if I would have put Kofi through all that even if it had been possible.
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Post by julz on Dec 27, 2006 13:58:05 GMT 1
OMG!!!!! see what you can do when you have more money than sense!!!!
I've had metal work (internal fixation) inside me, for 8yrs before it was removed...it causes pain in the long run. NO WAY would i ever agree to having that amount of metal in my horses leg.... they should have the horse put out of his misery, than subject him to the months of recovery this is going to take..... Animals can not reason with pain and discomfort in the way we can (even some people can't). I'm sorry but i don't see why they would put this horse through this proceedure.
Even if his leg mends...it's never going to be the same, and he'll probably never run again!
Just realised that this indeed did happen months ago.... I think that's bl00dy cruel!
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 20:16:27 GMT 1
Well, my horse was on box rest for four months this year recovering from a fractured pedal bone. Ok, he didn't have to have surgery like Barbaro has done, but he was still confined for that length of time, then confined to a small pen in the field for another two months. Was I wrong to do so? He's enjoying life to the full now, still not back in proper work and being more of a pet than anything else, but I don't think I could have denied him the chance to have however more happy years he is destined to have.
And God only knows how much Barbaro's treatment has cost so far, my horse was in hospital for one week and it cost me nearly £1,000, and that's without any surgery!
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Post by janetgeorge on Dec 27, 2006 20:23:57 GMT 1
I'm sorry but i don't see why they would put this horse through this proceedure. Even if his leg mends...it's never going to be the same, and he'll probably never run again! Just realised that this indeed did happen months ago.... I think that's bl00dy cruel! Would 10 million pounds change your mind?? This is a 3 year old colt who had already won over 2 million dollars. He'd never been defeated until the race he was injured in. He won the Kentucky Derby in a canter, fuelling comparisons with Affirmed and Secretariat! If he's able to stand at stud his earnings in just a few years will be considerably more than the payout on his life and stallion potential insurance would have been. And the loss of such a great horse WOULD be a serious loss to TB breeding. He apparently has a fantastic temperament - and would HAVE to, to undergo the restrictions necessary for treatment. But as he would have had the very best veterinary and nursing care money could buy, I can't see that it's cruel. With proper pain relief and lots of attention, there would be no suffering - effectively he's been on enforced box rest. |
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Post by julz on Dec 27, 2006 20:26:41 GMT 1
No, 10 million pounds wouldn't change my mind.
It was my opinion...... so what if i don't agree with anyone else, don't tear me apart for it.....
they're just cashing in on it, because he is unbeaten, and that will now never change, coz he'll never run again (he'll never get the chance to be beaten)... he may not be in pain any longer, but what about the long term effects? athritis? he could have this by the age of 5....
I don't think a broken pedal bone is quite the same as a smashed cannon bone.
My friends horse had a kick injury to his cannon bone, a spiral fracture they called it...he too was in a pony box for 5months, before being moved to horse box, then a cow byre and eventually a feild...but he did not have all that metal work inserted. if that had been the case, however much he was worth, she wouldn't have made him suffer anymore.
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 20:30:34 GMT 1
I have to say the money wouldn't swing it for me either. BUT, if the vets told me that he could have a happy life, enjoy time out in the field, and cover mares naturally, then I would do it if I owned him. Lets say he spends 6-8 months confined, then enjoys 30 happy years - why deny him that if his temperament lets him cope well with the confinement?
It's a toughie, but the owners must have had lots of reassurance from the vets that they are doing the right thing for him.
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Post by julz on Dec 27, 2006 20:40:23 GMT 1
but will they let him cover mares naturally? most of the time it's done artificially....
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 20:42:27 GMT 1
Pardon me. I was only adding my opinion, this is a DG after all. I did highlight that my horse didn't have to have surgery like Barbaro has. But he did have a long period of confinement. No-one is tearing you apart Julz. We are all just stating our opinions. As I have said before, life would be very boring if we all thought the same, everyone has their own ideas and opinions. Just because people don't agree with you, doesn't mean it's a personal insult. Lets all just live and let live!  |
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 20:43:16 GMT 1
I presume there must be a good chance of him covering mares naturally, as someone said earlier, TBs aren't allowed to use AI.
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xxx
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Post by xxx on Dec 27, 2006 20:47:35 GMT 1
not in tb's its not...
think owners do love him, just not sure if it will have a happy outcome, and the shape of that leg!
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It's a cert that he'll never race again, I think the most they are hoping for is a stud career.
