Barbaro American racehorse with broken leg

[kita1]

Just thought that people might be interested to know that the American racehorse Barbaro that broke its leg in a race four months ago is doing OK. The update this morning was that he went out twice to graze yesterday. Things are looking hopeful for him. This has really focused people's attention on the horse racing industry worldwide.

If it can be proved that horses can survive this sort of injury I wonder if it will change the automatic way they are destroyed?

[lankeela]

I doubt it very much. Not many horses win the Kentucky Derby! He raced five times, winning four times, including three Derbies, and in his fifth race he broke out of the starting gate, was pulled up and reloaded, but broke down on his off hind whilst lying fourth, and was subsequently found to have broken his leg. He won �1,280,930 in prize money and although the healing process will be a long and costly one, as he is still only three years old, he will hopefully have a great career at stud.

[spazvas]

Can never understand why they don't do something about the height of the jumps in the Grand National. Personally I can't watch the race, only to see these beautiful creatures being injured, its barbaric!

[Shire]

Actually the jumps in the Grand National have changed radically from their original form. Sadly one horse, TyneandThyneagain, was killed in the race this year, but in 2005 all the horses competeing in the race came home at the end.

[lankeela]

Barbaro broke his leg in a FLAT race.

[lankeela]

Incidentally, the majority of horses in the Grand National would be geldings anyway, so could not be used at stud anyway, therefore it would not be financially viable to repair a break such as this, as it must have cost thousands of dollars.

[banana1]

Unfortunately equine fractures are not like human fractures. The bone frequently shatters, breaks the skin and leads to infection and tendon and suspensory ligament damage. Barbaro needed something like 23 screws to stabilise the break. The X-ray looked gruesome. However uneven distribution of weight on the remaining good legs can also lead to laminitis. This is an inflammation of the hoof, frequently incurable, where the bone goes through the hoof wall. It is very painful and difficult to treat. Barbaro developed this condition and it was this that also nearly led to him being put down. Horses that cannot stand up die. It is the nature of the break and the subsequent complications that lead to horses being put down even if their owners would like to save them