graphic by" Stacy's Free Santa and Christmas Web Graphics
A friend and I were discussing Holiday gifts for horse lovers the other day. What could we give that would be both a useful and inexpensive gift, (especially for those of us who have several folks with whom we wish to share the holiday season wiith a meaningful and special gift that is not available in stores), are unique and affordable, plus one that will be an item that will demonstrate our love for horses and show the world how we feel about that wonderfully courageous and brilliant racehorse?
The entire cost ($5.00) of this beautiful "official" bracelet will be donated to the George D. Widener Hospital at new Bolton Center! What a win-win situation this is! I personally wear this bracelet with great joy.
Show Your Love For Barbaro to All, AND Support The George D Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center
All proceeds from the Barbaro wristband fundraiser will be donated to the Barbaro Fund for the George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. "This fund in Barbaro's name will honor him and provide a lasting resource to help care for animals treated at the Widener Hospital."
The wristbands are the colors of the Lael Stables' Jockey silks. Mrs. Jackson, Barbaro's co-owner, was doing an interview for the Catholic News Service. During her interview she made a comment to "live the moment. It's the greatest way in the world to live -- because you truly live. If you're always projecting into the future, you're not enjoying the moment."
BARBARO IS A WINNER! He has captured the heart of the nation. From the race track to the Intensive Care Unit -- he has shown only grace, determination, and the heart of a champion.
The wristbands are to be worn as a reminder of all that Barbaro has represented -- his courage, his triumph, his charm, and most of all his heart. When the person wearing the wristband happens to catch a glimpse of it -- it will be a reminder say a little prayer for him, and also to send him loving and healing thoughts.
MEDIUM WRISTBAND (7 3/8")
QUANTITY _____ ($5.00 EACH)
LARGE WRISTBAND (8 3/8")
QUANTITY _____ ($5.00 EACH)
TOTAL $ _____.__ (CASH OR CHECKS PAYABLE SHARON CLARK)
Toorder wristbands; please print this page and send $5.00 for each wristband to:
Sharon Clark
P.O. Box 78
Silver Spring, PA 17575
You may e-mail Sharon at barbarowristbands@dejazzd.com
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
A Fantastic Holiday Gift Idea For All Horse Lovers- Especially Barbaro Fans!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Where Are Horses In The "Pet Chain" and Do You Feel "charmed" in their presence?
The other day, while surfing the "web", I ran across an article that talked about the "Pet Chain". I thought it was an interesting context for the word.
So where are we as horse lovers in particular, in that "Pet Chain". I do believe that we are "charmed" with the gift of loving all animals. My life felt totally charmed to me owning some wonderful horses through the years. With the sun on my back, warming me on those chilly autumn days, while I galloped , whether in reality or in my mind's eye when I was not physically with my mare, the awesome gift of that love certainly gave my life so much joy and pleasure.
For many people, horses are considered "pets" in some way. While horses are a means of transportation, working the fields in some areas, pulling carts in New York City for the pleasure of tourists, competing in races and jumping competition, I firmly believe that many of their owners feel a special kind of love for them.
One only needs to hang out in a busy office at a boarding or teaching stable and hearing the stories of what "their horse" did, funny anecdotes and descriptive comments are heartwarming to say the least. One only needs to talk to a young person who has a relationship with a horse for a few minutes and it is plain to see that he or she adores this horse, plying them eagerly with treats, and finding ways to spend quality time with them. Giving their horse a bath with the subsequent walk to graze is heaven to a horse owner. The bonding process is a deep one. I feel that horses relate to humans and many of them actually demonstrate devotion to their human companions.
While it is impossible to bring a horse into one's home and snuggle with it while watching Television, or taking them to bed with us, nonetheless our feelings can be very strong. Some people do not consider horses their pets, and there is some controversy about this. Two of the three horses that I was lucky enough to share my life with, were looked on by me as part of my "fur" family.
What constitutes a pet?
Merriam-Webster defines the word pet:
1 a : a pampered and usually spoiled child b : a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : DARLING
2 : a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility
Can't a domesticated animal that is kept for "utility" also be kept for pleasure?
What are our responsibilities to companion animals?
How do we protect them?
I found a really compelling video on my search on the Internet today. I love what the video creator talks about in calling these horses "charmed." Yes, indeed they are charmed. These horses are obviously loved and cared for with much respect and feeling. You can tell that the video creator has a very special place in her heart for horses. She feels "charmed" also. The link to her video is at the conclusion of this post. Please allow it time to load. It is well worth the wait.
This being said, What can we do as a species to insure that all our companion animals (and all animals for that matter) are treated with respect and grace?
However, I digressed from the topic of this entry!
What are your feelings about horses as pets? Do you think that it is realistic to put them into that category? Is there a more realistic way of describing them? If you own a horse, do you consider them a pet or a companion animal? I am very interested in hearing from folks on this issue. Thank you for your input!
Posted with permission from Cowboys-n-Cowgirls.com
A CHARMED LIFE
The Rainbow Bridge - Horse Version
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
Whenever a beloved horse passes from this realm, they all go to the very special valley. There is always thick lush green pastures with tall grasses dancing in a soft breeze. There's crystal clear blue sparkling waters, running in rivers, waterfalls, and streams. Warm spring weather with a soft gentle breeze. The old and frail animals are young again. Those had been injured or maimed are made whole again. They romp and play all day.
There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them here on Earth. So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! Nostrils flared, ears up! Sparkling eyes, from the intent gaze, as this one looks onward toward the bridge! And then, suddenly runs from the group.
You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you wrap your arms around your special friend's neck, tangle your fingers within their locks of hair and in the flowing mane, your friend arches that graceful neck and bows low the noble head, in order to be able to reach down in your arm's embrace.
You look into those big knowing and loving eyes, as your own lashes are covered in a veil of happy tears. You are at long last, together again. And Together you cross over the Rainbow Bridge. Never to be separated again.
Modified for Horses- 2002 D. Enise
Spirit_horses_Rainbow_Bridge_Story
Recent Updates From Tim Wooley For Barbaro- Lots of Comfortable Stuff! YAY
Report for Barbaro is not listed today, yet! Will update when it comes in. I have been remiss in posting the most recent updates, so here they are. "Our boy" continues to do well. In fact, NBC has gone to bi-weekly updates now, unless there is a change in his condition that needs to be sent out immediately. Let's continue praying for this remarkable horse. He is not out of the woods, but it appears that there is certainly sunshine showing through the trees! Here is the promised update for last night (Saturday)
Update 928: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter had not yet visited Barbaro, so I will try to get another update later.
These are the most recent updates from the past few days!
Update 916: I just spoke to Peter Brette, who visited Barbaro this afternoon. Peter took Barbaro out for a pick of grass before the rain started. He groomed him, changed his bandages and fed Barbaro a couple of apples. Another good report.
Update 910: Peter Brette visited Barbaro again today, which is looking like the routine while Michael Matz is overseeing Round Pond's training at Keeneland. Peter took Barbaro out for a pick of grass, groomed him and changed his bandages. All remains comfortable.
Update 908: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). I just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter again plans to visit later today so hopefully I will catch up and get another later report too.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
On The Loss Of Grandma- For Stephanie of Miracle Horse Rescue
Miracle Horse Rescue was established in 2001. Stephanie, who owns this safe haven, pours so much love and care for the horses that she has rescued. I was touched deeply by the special feelings that she had for Grandma and the sad moment when she went to her final resting place at the Rainbow Bridge.
A very old lady, Grandma came to live with Stephanie five months ago. It was sad that she did not find her sooner. Grandma came from deplorable conditions and still was lviing with her 20 year old "baby" in the same pen. The "baby" was getting the majority of their feed, resulting in Grandma being very, very thin and in in great need of tender loving care.
But upon being in Stephanie's care, Grandma slowly began to put on some weight. However, sadly, due to her long term neglect prior to coming to Miracle Horse Rescue, the odds were stacked against Grandma. Stephanie gave this old gal the best of care, but in spite of all of her efforts, Grandma's vet knew that her internal organs were damaged severely and for her to "come back" would be so very hard.
Grandma did spend five months with the best of loving care with heroic efforts to save her life. At least she knew the touch of a tender hand and the sweet words spoken to her with respect and concern.
Stephanie wrote about her experience with Grandma and I would like to share it with my readers. She pours out her love and tenderness in her writing. I just felt that it was fitting to memorialize Grandma so that she can live in our hearts too as she romps and plays in those heavenly pastures now.
Written on September 20,2006
"We had to let Grandma cross over the Rainbow Bridge this morning. Despite our efforts, this was recommended by our Veterinarian. He stated she was an old gal and he believed she was in kidney failure, her blood pressure was low and she was very lethargic.
As we walked her out of her stall, the only horse she gave a small wuffle to was Half Moon who has been with us for five years. He began whinnying and bucking in his pen. He does not do well with changes. In my heart I know that these beautiful creatures understand and communicate with one another.
I truly believe she was saying goodbye to him. She went very peacefully and she did not go alone as Rob and I were with her the whole time. I would not wish this part of what we have to go through onanyone.
She is now in greener pastures never to feel pain ever again.
Losing a horse is so draining, especially when you spend hours and hours with them seven days a week, whether its cleaning their stalls and having them jack with you while you are doing it, nudging you, pulling on rake etc., each one has their own unique personality. .
Anyway to get to my point, I was out in the front turn-out cleaning a 100 gallon tank, and refilling with fresh water and leaning against the fence when each one of the horses with the exception of two, came over and nuzzled my cheek as if to say, "it's going to be alright". It was such a peaceful experience. They truly sense when you are down.
The clowns of the group began to play, and Whiskey who is a very large horse (broke his short pasturn bone 4 years ago and was brought to us from Elko, NV by his former owner to get him into a warmer climate) dunked his head in the water tank and shook it on me and spun around wreaking havoc with the rest of the clowns making me smile. Despite all the darkness, these horses let a huge ray of light in."
Why God Gives Us Horses - and Takes Them Away Again
Thank you Barngoddess2 for sharing this!
God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life?
Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to jump.
Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn from them, but when the time is right, it's up to us to see them off gracefully.
OK, perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful. But we can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than th e tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle - or a computer - a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice.
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you - you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways t o injure themselves.
If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. I found oneof ours on the front porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as Halloween decorations.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate o r willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people - which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday - but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car in "drive."
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences...if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion, in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get t o heaven.
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as w e'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals...Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses - its about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, or a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give.
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. And so we pray:
''Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, please give our fine horses the best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more good gallop when we meet again?"
prayer below posted with permission of cowboys-n-cowgirls.com
A Magnificent Video- A MUST SEE! So Very Moving.
There have been some extraordinary videos produced about Barbaro during his recovery from the dreadful injury that he sustained at the Preakness. I saw this one this morning, and I just wanted to share it with my readers. This video carries a very strong message of hope and joy. The heartwarming clips of Barbaro "communicating" with a cat and a cow is just precious. There is also a shot of him with an expression on his face that could be translated into many intereresting statements.
BarbarboFan52 From The Tim Woolley Forum has really outdone herself in making this video. I recommend it highly. Do have tissues available... but most of those tears are tears of joy and hope!
WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
How did this video affect you? Please share your thoughts with us!
graphic by permission from DsDesigns
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Today IS CALL IN DAY To Your Senators To Pass S 1915 and H.R.503
Protecting Horses From Slaughter Prevention Act-Take Action NOW
I have received many emails from people who want to know what they can do to help to support the Slaughter Prevention Act, that is now in the Senate pending their action. This is how you can help RIGHT NOW! TODAY IS CALL IN DAY!! FLOOD THE PHONE LINES!
Here are the Call In Numbers! It takes 30 seconds to make these calls. Please take action TODAY!!
1. Senator Frist phone 202-224-3135 Light up his line BIG TIME!
2. Senator Stevens 202- 224 3004
3. Senator Ensign ( Sponsor of S. 1915) 202-224-6244
4. Senator Landrieu ( Co- Sponsor) 202-224-5824
5. Senator Reed ( Co-Sponsor) 202-224-4642
6. Senator McConnell 202-224-2541
7. Senator Reid 202-224- 3542
If you're not sure what to say, try this: "I am a constituent and I am calling to ask that the Senator immediately protect our horses from slaughter and cosponsor S. 1915, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. I am very concerned about American horses and I don't want them slaughtered." 2. Let us know you called. Follow up your phone calls by letting us know you called to support the end of horse slaughter in the United States. Click here to let us know you called. Please take both steps! We must light up the phones in the Capitol because there already is very vigorous lobbying by the slaughter industry and its allies. We must counter them at every turn.
The Government Affairs section—principally at the state and federal levels—supports public policies to protect animals. Our current federal legislative priorities are outlined below. Click here to look up legislative efforts in each state.
Protecting Horses from Slaughter:
Last year, nearly 100,000 American horses were either killed at one of three U.S. slaughterhouses for export or shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter. Congress approved an amendment to stop horse slaughter during 2006. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is movingforward with a plan that ignores this Congressional mandate. This surprise move underscores the need for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, S. 1915 and H.R. 503, which will permanently prohibit the transport, possession, purchase, or sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. H.R. 503 recently passed the House by a 263-146 margin and now it's time for the Senate to act. Two bills, S. 576 and H.R. 297, will reinstate protection from slaughter for wild horses which was stripped at the end of 2004.
Take Action: Horses Headed Toward Final Hurdle
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Prayers and Glow Needed For Luna Kitty- For EQLhasas's sister, Wendy
Nancy wrote to me about her " kitty niece", her sister's beloved cat, Luna Kitty.
"Luna is my nephew Sean's kitty. Sean is seven years old. Luna is about one and a half years old. She is a rescue kitty. She has only a 50/50 chance of surviving her liver disease and must be fed through a feeding tube for six to eight weeks. The vets are working hard to keep her alive and nourished."
Please pray for this little girl. She means so much to her family.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and glow. As soon as I get updates on her condition, I will post them here.
Luna is showing improvement! Here is the latest update!
Luna Update From Her "Mom" 10/31/06
"She kept down her 35 cc feedings yesterday (at least up until 4:00 p.m. or so). Today they’re going to recheck her liver function tests and do an x-ray to make sure her feeding tube is positioned properly, and if everything checks out, so will Luna and I can bring her home. Fingers crossed…"
Update 10/31 Good news! Nancy writes:
"The biopsy shows hepatic lipidosis http://maxshouse.com/Feline_Hepatic_Lipidosis.htm and no sign of bacteria - so if an infection was the original cause of this, the IV antibiotics have wiped it out.
Luna looked SO much better today! She was up and around, grooming herself, trying to jump out of the cage she’s in – even crawled on to me and let me hold her for a while. Her liver function tests are looking better too, except for the bilirubin, but the vet wasn’t worried as she expects a lot of these values to take several weeks to return to normal. They were trying her on 40 cc feedings today, but she couldn’t keep them down – seems like she’s fine all day, then when I get there to see her, she barfs. :P I think maybe she gets a little over-excited especially when the boys are there too being the active, noisy creatures that young boys are. In any event, she wants to back down the feedings and try again forsending her home on Wednesday, and in the meantime, she was taking Luna for a new IV placement (current one was more than three days old) and a BATH when I left. (Poor Luna-kitty!)."
11/3 Update:
Not much more to tell right now, really. it is just a matter of putting on weight and learning to eat again .She’s doing great otherwise. Very feisty – it’s getting harder and harder to get her to sit still long enough for the tube feedings. Vet saw her today, says she looks great too. Now to put some meat on that boney rear end of hers…
News Release Update From New Bolton Center 10/24 Barbaro
Jennifer Rench
(610) 925-6182
jrench@vet.upenn.edu
Gail Luciani
(215) 898-1475
luciani@vet.upenn.edu
Jockey Edgar Prado visits with Barbaro with Dr. Dean Richardson. Photo by Kathy Freeborn.
9/16/06
Barbaro had another good week
October 24, 2006
KENNETT SQUARE, PA – It has been a little over five months since Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was brought to the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. “I am happy to report that Barbaro had another good week, and his appetite and vital signs remain excellent,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital.
Barbaro’s right hind leg remains in a fiberglass cast. “We are being very conservative with the right hind (fractured) limb in order to help protect the foundered left hind foot.” said Dr. Richardson. “The hoof is growing slowly and not uniformly so it has a long way to go before it is acceptably strong and functional,” said Dr. Richardson. “The foot will require meticulous care for a long time and setbacks here and there are probable.”
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
Due to Barbaro’s continued improvement, the University will now be posting updates biweekly. The next update will be posted on Tuesday, November 7, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
For more information on Barbaro, please see www.vet.upenn.edu.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Barbaro Continues To Beat The Odds- Great Video
This is a wonderful video. There is a commercial but afterwards a really compassionate and soulful video about Barbaro.
Barbaro Continues To Beat The Odds
Thanks, Cheryl, for your contribution to the journal.
Tim Woolley Update 111 10/23 And Note From Kennett Florist!
Update 892: Peter Brette just called. He visited Barbaro today, took him outside and gave him a good grooming. A positive report.
Update 891: Rachel from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 9:16 pm):
We had a nice trip to NBC today. A wonderful FOB came for a visit and supplied lunch and dessert to the very grateful (and hungry) staff at New Bolton. They were treated to pizza, salad, cake and various chocolates. Needless to say they were thrilled... they always are when food is involved!!
Big Boss was of course not left out of the festivities. Lots of green tops and stud muffins for him to enjoy... he's always thrilled with his treats as well.
It's turning cold here again, as we get ready for our annual Halloween parade in town... Kennett goes over the top for Halloween, all the area businesses put up scarecrows to decorate main street. Then they close the streets and have a big parade with all the bands in costume, of course. After which all the stores in town stay open and the kids get to go trick-or-trating. So instead of just having a scarecrow, we created a venus fly trap EATING a scarecrow... come on we are a flower shop, not just Barbaro's cafe!!
Rally For Horses Information! From HSUS Grassroots Outreach Coordinator
More than one month ago the U.S. House voted to ban horse slaughter. Now we must turn our focus to passing the same bill in the Senate. A key component to our victory in the House was your phone calls to Congress leading up to the vote. For the first time since we began this fight, the voices of the opposition are raising above our own. Senators have reported hearing equally from compassionate advocates in support of the bill and those in favor of slaughter opposed to the bill.
We need to raise our voices above the cries of our opponents and make sure we are ten times as vocal as our opposition!
We cannot fail! The lives of countless horses are at stake. Last year over 90,000 horses were sent to slaughter. If we do not shut the doors on the three remaining U.S. slaughterhouses now, we will have to begin this process again when a new Congress adjourns in January.
Take immediate action:
1.Call your U.S. Senator today:
You can get his/her number at this link: U.S. Senate
Ask him/her to “please cosponsor S.1915 the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and protect horses from slaughter.”
2. Spread the word: one phone call is not enough. We need hundreds. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers to call their Senators today.
3. NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY: October 25 (Wednesday) and November 14 (Tuesday) are national call-in days for horses. Pass the word to your friends and ask them to call their Senators too.
4. Don’t quit. Call this week, call next week, and call the following week. Let’s keep up the pressure!
Remember, with your help we can save the lives of thousands of horses from cruel and inhumane slaughter.
Sincerely,
~kelley
Kelley Dupps
Grassroots Outreach Coordinator -- Government Affairs
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
519 C Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-955-3678 voice
240-731-7372 cell
202-676-2301 fax
Interested in organizing or attending an HSUS Lobby 101 training seminar on the basics of lobbying? Please contact the Government Affairs Grassroots Team at 202-955-3678 or kdupps@hsus.org.
Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to www.hsus.org/join .
Fantastic Aricle about Barbaro and New Bolton Center Staff
Kentucky Derby winner’s spirit wins over medical staffBy
JACK IRELAND and MARTIN FRANK, The News Journal Posted Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Dr. Dean Richardson inserted 27 screws into Barbaro’s leg during a five-hour procedure May 7. AP file
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — On the night of May 6, the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center became the center of a nation’s attention.
Members of the print and TV media, many of whom had never heard of the veterinary hospital, rushed toward this small town.
Once there, they awaited news on Barbaro, the 3-year-old colt whose Triple Crown hopes turned to tragedy when he broke his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes.
Barbaro underwent life-saving surgery at New Bolton the next day. In the months since, the hospital has become a destination for well-wishers and Barbaro fans.
The Kentucky Derby winner’s story and his magnetism also have touched those who attend to his daily needs and are vital to the horse’s survival.
“He definitely has a personality,” said Kasey McCafferty, the charge nurse in the intensive care unit and natal intensive care unit at the hospital. “He has bit me and kicked me. He can be feisty. He’s not nasty and he’s not trying to hurt anybody, but he’s a stinker. He can get full of himself.
“Every time you see him, you have to pay attention because he’s always messing with you. He makes you prove that you know what you’re doing. Once you do that, he’s fine.”
McCafferty was laughing when she said that, as she looks forward to seeing him every day.
She watches him bend his ears back and scrunch up his face like a kid trying to avoid eating spinach when he doesn’t like something. She said he breaks out in a sort of smile when he decides he wants to have some fun with the staff.
Barbaro has affected the other caregivers as well.
“If you do this for an extended period of time, they can get to you and get a special place in your heart,” said Dr. Evita Busschers, the resident in surgery at New Bolton.
“Barbaro has accomplished that with several people, not just me.”
Neither Busschers nor McCafferty have seen Barbaro look discouraged, even though the surgeon that saved his life, Dr. Dean Richardson, described the fractures as “catastrophic” and inserted 27 screws into Barbaro’s leg during a five-hour procedure May 7.
An accomplished facility
New Bolton has a history beyond one famous horse. The facility, which opened in 1954, features one of the world’s largest equine surgical faculties. Widener Hospital, which is part of the New Bolton Center, treats more than 6,000 animals a year.
New Bolton is a teaching facility whose staff annually sees more than 19,000 animals on farms, horse training facilities and agriculture enterprises in the region.
Dr. Corinne Sweeney, associate dean for New Bolton, chief operating officer and executive director of Widener Hospital, said the campus employees about 400, with more than 200 in the Widener Hospital.
“Doctors go out mostly to farms and cattle dairies,” said Sweeney. “They have weekend clients and regular clients they see as needed. There is also veterinary students riding along and watching on a daily basis.”
Richardson, has been involved with the Penn Veterinary School and New Bolton since he was an intern there in 1979.
His wife, Dr. Laura Richardson, owns and operates Pike Creek Animal Hospital.
“We get every form of horse here from backyard ponies, draft horses, show horses, jumpers, racehorses, retired horses,” said Richardson. “The horse industry we treat is very diverse. I recently did surgery on a quarter horse. He had stepped on a nail. It was very serious surgery. The nail had punctured the skin, gone up into his joint.
Barbaro’s case not only held the nation’s attention, it served to teach students at New Bolton.
Sweeney said Penn students spend much of their fourth year of vet school at New Bolton. This is after completing four years of undergraduate college studies.
“[Students] were observing when Barbaro had his surgery” Sweeney said. “When Barbaro was having cast changes, there were students observing. That’s a critical part of their training. Just like medical students at Christiana Hospital observing.”
Richardson made more headlines in August when he operated on Alcor, a 750-pound polar bear, in an attempt to repair his shattered leg.
While the polar bear handled the surgery, he died coming out of the anesthesia as he was being transported home.
“I’ve operated on different type animals like cows, lions, tigers,” said Richardson. “We had an elephant here for treatment and once I operated on a bald eagle. … We’ve had a camel in here. We’ve had tons of South American llama, pet pigs and so much more.”
The 700-acre New Bolton facility also houses the Marshak Dairy, the Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Pathology and one of Pennsylvania’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratories.
‘It’s what people can afford’
Deciding on how far to go in trying to save an animal, especially racehorses, is different for a veterinarian as opposed to a human doctor.
“Money plays a role,” said Richardson. “For some people, they will spend $10,000 to $20,000 to save their dog. It’s no big deal to them.
“When animals come in here I always discuss how far [owners] want to go as far as expenses,” said Richardson. “Some racehorses are insured, but there’s very little third-party payment. There’s no social veterinary medicine. It’s what people can afford when we talk about that particular surgery. There’s certainly no medical insurance out there that could cover Barbaro.”
Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, debated whether Barbaro should be euthanized when he developed laminitis – an inflammation of the hoof.
“To save the horse, that’s first on the list,” said Richardson. “However, when the horse is suffering and doesn’t have much chance to be happy and comfortable, you can end the suffering.”
The Jacksons live nearby, and visit Barbaro at least once a day. That is also true of trainer Michael Matz.
“He’s getting wonderful care, and they’re all doing everything they can for him,” Roy Jackson said. “There are a whole lot of responsibilities for his care. They run a wonderful operation there.”
Many involved
That operation involves many people behind the scenes.
McCafferty is one of three nurses in the ICU at any given time. She works from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., caring for as many as six horses in the unit.
McCafferty had a pretty good idea that Barbaro would come to New Bolton when she watched the Preakness at her mother’s house. She saw the harrowing images of
Barbaro coming up lame not even 100 yards into the race. She saw him loaded onto the horse ambulance, with the blue tarp nearby in case he was put down on the track.
Busschers was telling her mother the same thing that night. Busschers’ mother was visiting that weekend from their native Holland.
“She had never heard about Barbaro before,” Busschers said. “She knows who he is now. She’s always asking me how he’s doing.”
Busschers was there when Richardson operated on Barbaro three times in July.
She said she has learned a lot just from watching Richardson work. During surgery, she will give Richardson the materials and instruments that he needs, and she’ll ask as many questions as possible.
“He does ask for opinions and I give suggestions,” Busschers said. “He usually listens to what I have to say. He doesn’t always agree, but he does listen.”
Both McCafferty and Busschers are grateful for this opportunity. Just like Barbaro’s legion of fans, they are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.
But they knew they can’t get too caught up in the moment, that they have to keep giving Barbaro his daily treatments and make sure he gets the care he needs, along with the other horses there.
“He’s a fighter,” McCafferty said of Barbaro. “He never gave up. When you go to work with him every day and you look in his eyes, you can tell that he wants to live.”
Contact Jack Ireland at 324-2808 or jireland@delawareonline.com.
Contact Martin Frank at 324-2805 or mfrank@delawareonline.com.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 110, 10/22 "ACN"
Update 879: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had heard from Dr. Richardson.
updated sunday, october 22, 11:00 am
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 109- Another Comfortable Day For Barbaro!
Update 876: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. I just spoke to Peter (6:00 pm) who had spoken to Michael, who had visited.
Note from OurBelovedAngels:
Every day that we get "Another Comfortable Night" or Another Comfortable Day" is one more day that Barbaro is beating the odds in his healing. While he is not out of the woods yet, he certainly is making excellent progress. Let's continue sending those prayers and lighting those candles and sending well wishes to his people. I never get tired of the initials ACN! It makes my day, and so many other people's days too.
Tonight is a special vigil night at 7:00 PM. Please say some special prayers for Barbaro, and his people, and light a candle too. This horse is indeed a miracle. We all adore him.
Protecting Horses From Slaughter Prevention Act-Take Action NOW
FACT: The number of horses currently slaughtered (1%) can EASILY be absorbed into the horse population via the MANY alternatives to slaughter. Ending horse slaughter will not create a glut of unwanted horses or decimate the horse industry. The number of horses slaughtered in 1990 was a staggering 350,000, a number that dropped to an all time low of 42,000 in 2002. Between 1992 and 1993 alone, the number of horses slaughtered dropped 79,000. This is the approximate number of horses that would be spared if horse slaughter were banned today. These decreases didn't create a glut of “unwanted” horses - the industry absorbed them and the market remained stable, just as it will when horse slaughter is eliminated. There are many alternatives to horse slaughter, including retraining/placement services, rescues, retirement homes, sanctuaries, and therapeutic riding programs. American Horse Defense Fund produced a 270-page book of alternatives, and many humane web sites have similar lists.
The number of horses slaughtered is not a function of how many horses are unwanted; it is directly related to both the demand for American horse meat overseas, and the capacity to process it here in this country. The number of horses in the U.S. is currently estimated at an all time high of over 9 million, with a very minimal 1% of the animals going to slaughter.
Many stolen horses are processed at slaughter plants and cannot be considered “unwanted” by any definition. Statistics from one of the largest groups that assist owners in the recovery of their stolen horses, Stolen Horse International (netposse.org) show that approximately 60% of stolen horses are killed at slaughter plants. Several lawsuits show a large number of horses have been obtained through fraud and civil theft. Testimony given under oath by 3 slaughterhouse employees stated that “We do not check for brands or tattoos, we will check for the chips but only to remove them before slaughter so they don't taint the meat... We know that these horses could be stolen.”
California saw no increase in abuse cases in the 10 years since its horse slaughter ban, and even noted a decrease 3 years following the ban. During the 4 years that Cavel was closed, Illinois saw a noticeable decrease in abuse/neglect cases. Horse slaughter encourages (not prevents) abuse, in its transport and by rewarding abusive owners who sell abused/neglected horses without penalty.
Debra suggested that I visit HSUS.org to get more information that I can share with my readers. Here is what HSUS has on their web site now!
HSUS Action- Protecting Horses From Slaughter Prevention Act-Take Action NOW
The Government Affairs section—principally at the state and federal levels—supports public policies to protect animals. Our current federal legislative priorities are outlined below. Click here to look up legislative efforts in each state.
Protecting Horses from Slaughter:
Last year, nearly 100,000 American horses were either killed at one of three U.S. slaughterhouses for export or shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter. Congress approved an amendment to stop horse slaughter during 2006. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is movingforward with a plan that ignores this Congressional mandate. This surprise move underscores the need for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, S. 1915 and H.R. 503, which will permanently prohibit the transport, possession, purchase, or sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. H.R. 503 recently passed the House by a 263-146 margin and now it's time for the Senate to act. Two bills, S. 576 and H.R. 297, will reinstate protection from slaughter for wild horses which was stripped at the end of 2004.
Take Action: Horses Headed Toward Final Hurdle
Action Alerts From HSUS Concerning Farm and Domestic Animals
Protecting Our Pets: When disasters like Hurricane Katrina strike, many people are forced to leave their pets behind. Following recent Congressional action on the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, S. 2548 and H.R. 3858, President Bush signed the historic legislation into law, ensuring Americans are not faced with this terrible choice again. The PETS Act requires state and local agencies to include pets in their disaster plans. The Antifreeze Bittering Act, S. 1110 and H.R. 2567, would add a bittering agent to engine coolant and antifreeze to prevent children and animals from being poisoned. The Pet Safety and Protection Act, S. 451 and H.R. 5229, would stop shady "Class B" dealers from stealing pets and acquiring them from "free to a good home" ads to be sold to animal research facilities. The Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005 (PAWS), S. 1139 and H.R. 2669, will provide oversight and better care for animals in "puppy mills"—mass-breeding operations—and will ban imports of puppy mill dogs into the United States.
Ridding America of Animal Fighting: We're working to pass the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, S. 382 and H.R. 817, creates felony-level penalties for animal fighting activities and has passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. We are also working to secure funding for proper enforcement of these provisions.
Protecting Wildlife and People: The Captive Primate Safety Act, S. 1509 and H.R. 1329, prohibits interstate and foreign commerce in nonhuman primates for the pettrade. Some 15,000 primates are in private hands, and recent high-profile attacks, as well as disease threats, underscore the need for this legislation. The Truth in Fur Labeling Act, H.R. 4904, requires important product information for consumers who purchase fur-trimmed garments, so they are not left in the dark as to whether the trim on their collars or cuffs came from wild animals who were caught in steel-jawed leghold traps, from intensively confined animals on factory farms, or even from dogs or cats.
Putting the Lid on Canned Hunts and Internet Hunting: The Sportsmanship in Hunting Act, S. 304 and H.R 1688, seeks to halt the interstate transport of exotic animals for use in canned hunts. We are also backing legislation, H.R. 1558, to put an end to an associated activity—Internet hunting—in which a hunter can click a computer mouse to bag a trophy at a canned hunt facility. And we worked with Senate leaders to end a tax scam in which trophy hunters write off their killing sprees by donating their mounts to pseudo-museums.
Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals: The Downed Animal Protection Act, S. 1779 and H.R. 3931 establishes a permanent ban on the slaughter of downed livestock—animals too sick or injured to stand are walk on their own. Poultry represent 95% of animals slaughtered in the United States, but they're not covered by the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. The law should be amended to assure that poultry are rendered insensible to pain prior to being killed. And we are supporting the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act, H.R. 5557, which would require that the federal government lead by example and purchase meat, dairy, and eggs from producers who raise farm animals more humanely.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 108 10/20 - "ACN"
Update 868: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was driving out of Fair Hill after a pretty unproductive freelance morning (no worries about that though, its nice to have a break). Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
20 Year Memorial For Yo Yo- My Sweet Soul Mate Angel Cat!
graphic from Catstuff.com
I have loved cats my entire life. In fact, when I was only three years old, my parents had taken me out to the country for a picnic. Sitting under an apple tree, listening to the birds, feeling so "liberated" in the big outdoors, (so my parents told me), there was a rustle in the tree branches and a cat fell out of the tree, landing on my head, trying to regain her composure using my face to get down to terra firmae. Did I cry? NO! All I was concerned about was whether "kitty" was ok.
My mother was not a true cat lover at all. She much preferred her furniture and carpets, but my dad was a cat worshipper. I must have inherited the "cat lover" gene from his side of the family. I am so grateful to him for introducing me to these beautiful and fascinating creatures.
So when I was a young child I did not share my home with cats.
However, when I got married, one of the first things that I did was to add two kittens to our household. That began the long and delightful journey sharing my heart and home with some amazing felines.
One of those cats was named Yo Yo. She was a seal point Siamese that was given to my husband and me as a gift. Small and dainty, sweet and intelligent, Yo Yo opened my heart, snuggling inside it, deeply. And there she remained for 14 years. She was my soul mate cat for the time we shared together.
It will be twenty years at the end of this month that my darling Yo Yo passed through the portals to the Rainbow Bridge, but it seems just like yesterday at times. She is missed deeply and has left deep pawprints on my heart. I am thankful each day that I had the chance to share part of my life with her.
We lost Yo Yo to Fibrosarcoma due to a reaction to a Rabies shot. We tried to protect her- but her immune system could not handle the vaccine. So I am very cautious about vaccines that can put my cats at risk. Catshots.com has excellent information about these risks.
Play with those catnip mice once again, my dear one... one day we will be reunited and our joy will be felt all over the Rainbow bridge.
graphic by:M00NLTSNTA- used with permission and with thanks!
Tim Woolley Updates 106-107 "ACNS" and News
I am so sorry that I did not update the journal yesterday, but I have been under the weather myself. So here are yesterday's and today's. Good news too! Our Barbaro is "growing taller" and gaining weight! Excellent updates!
Barbaro Updates: 107
Update 865: Just spoke to Peter (6:10 pm), and Barbaro had a comfortable day. He had heard from Michael who visited Barbaro this afternoon
Update 862: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). I walked back from the track with Michael Matz, coming back from my second set. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also mentioned Barbaro seems to have gained some weight (about 1100 lbs, I think he is weighed very regularly) and might have actually grown a little during his recovery. He was never actually measured while in training, but Michael thinks he might be about 17 hands now.
This morning it was dark, dark going to the track on my first set, and dark coming back from the track. The clocks need to change, and hopefully soon.
Barbaro Updates: 106
Update 856: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was heading to the track on my second set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. It is a very foggy, and somewhat humid, morning this morning. The track is sealed after all the rain we had yesterday. A quiet day for me this morning, only three - four to ride.
update 7:50 am, wednesday, october 18
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 105 -10/16 "ACN" -Excellent Article Too.
Updated 7:40am tuesday morning
Update 848: Another great Barbaro article: His crowning success.
Note from Journal author: This article is very worthwhile reading. It is one of the best ones I have seen. It speaks about courage and love in a really compelling manner, and demonstrates the great admiration and care that Barbaro has
commanded. It is truly inspirational reading!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 104- 9/16 "ACN", A Wonderful Article and Comment From Me!
Update 843: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I saw Michael Matz on my first set, he had heard from Dr. Richardson. While it is another chilly morning at Fair Hill, it was a gorgeous sunrise and looks like it will be a lovely day. So far I have ridden two horses (a Carson City 2yo gelding and Chappy), probably three to four more to go. Nice easy morning for the beginning of the week.
update 7:40 am, monday, october 16
Update 842: The Daily Pennsylvanian has a story about Barbaro and you 'Colt' of personality surrounds star horse.
Note from OurBelovedAngels: This article really is something well worth reading. It talks about the love for this horse from a woman in Canada, and speaks eloquently about the "Fans of Barbaro" and how so many people follow the daily updates and how important they are to folks. We thank Tim Woolley's site from the bottom of our hearts for keeping us informed. Blessings to Tim and Alex for providing the timely news and progress. I invite comments about these updates. How has this miracle horse affected you?
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Barbaro's steady doc - A Wonderful Article About Dr.Dean Richardson
Surgeon relentless through stress, critics, rehab.
By DICK JERARDI
jerardd@phillynews.com
GEORGE WIDMAN/Associated Press
Dr. Dean Richardson, on Barbaro: 'I can look myself in the mirror easily and say I haven't put this horse through pain.'
WHEN YOU have been doing something for nearly 30 years, you know what can go right and what can go wrong. Still, as June blended into July, Dr. Dean Richardson began to believe that his case of a lifetime was going to end with the outcome that everybody wanted. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's fractured right hind leg was healing. Just about every sign was positive.
Perhaps all those people who are so attached to animals and really became attached to this animal, who had sent all those flowers and all those posters to the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, were going to able to see Barbaro walk out of the hospital.
Then, with no warning, everything changed. Even now, weeks after that first week in July, Richardson - the chief of surgery at New Bolton and the doctor who performed the May 21 surgery on Barbaro the day after the colt shattered that right hind leg in the Preakness, a man who has seen just about everything there is to see in his business - finds those days hard to relive.
Seated at one of the desks in the auditorium where he first explained Barbaro's injuries and then made the grim prognosis in mid-July, he went back to the weekend of July 8-9, describing all that went down before then and all that has transpired since.
Late that Sunday afternoon (July 9), Richardson attended a party honoring Gov. Rendell at Mark Reid's Walnut Green Farm, a farm a few miles from New Bolton. He had just finished approximately 20 hours of surgery on Barbaro. He knew the issues had gone from serious to life-threatening. Outwardly, he was calm and relaxed. That belied how he felt.
"I was in tears by the end of that day, at home," said Richardson, whose eyes were getting moist during the telling. "I almost get emotional just thinking about how upset I was about that day, because I thought we were going to lose him.
"Then, I was exhausted, physically and mentally. I don't even like to think about that day.
"Getting him up was so stressful. Getting him up out of the pool and not having him stand and then fight us.
"It's one thing for everybody else who was there, because there were tons of other people involved in this. They were all stressed. But I'm sure that on that one day, as stressed as everybody else was, that's the one day I would say I'm sure I was more stressed than anybody else, because I knew that every decision that was made basically was mine - good decisions, bad decisions were my responsibility.
"That was an awful day. That's when he was foundering. At that point, I knew we were in trouble. You second-guess every single thing you did from the day after the Preakness."
It would be several days later when Richardson would tell the world that Barbaro had foundered, contracted the often-deadly hoof disease, laminitis, in his left hind foot. It was then that he would call the colt's long-term prognosis "poor."
"We had an awful lot of things going on, including very, very extensive discussions with Gretchen and Roy [Jackson, Barbaro's owners] and Michael [Matz, his trainer] about whether or not that was the time to call it quits. I think everybody's happy that we didn't call it quits. The horse really has not suffered since that time. Minor discomfort at worst. The horse has had a lot of good quality time since then, and I can look myself in the mirror easily and say I haven't put this horse through pain.
"I can't say that that's true for every single horse I've worked on. I know that I've had horses where I deeply regret that I kept them going longer than I should have kept them going. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes, you think you're going to pull them out of the fire and sometimes that doesn't work out."
When you decide in college that you want your life's work to be with horses, as Richardson did at Dartmouth, you get attached to the animals. You really have no choice. And when you lose a patient, you don't forget.
"It's pretty devastating and it's not just me," Richardson said. "It's all my colleagues, my residents, my interns, the nursing staff, everybody that gets involved in these horses, people really should understand that we get pretty tied up with these animals and I don't mean like in a kind of schoolgirlish, 'Oh, isn't he a cute pony?' type thing. You know, that's your job, and you take it seriously. And the whole reason you became a vet is because you wanted to help animals."
Richardson has been a surgeon at New Bolton for 27 years. He went to Dartmouth wanting to be an actor, but when the would-be drama major took a class in horseback riding, he was hooked almost immediately, reading "100 books about the theory of riding."
Riding morphed into an all-encompassing infatuation with everything to do with horses.
"I just got very serious about it very quickly," Richardson said. "Finally, it dawned on me that I was a crappy actor. I was in a bunch of stuff and I just learned after watching people that were better.
"The whole time, I was taking some science courses because, for me, science was relatively easy. I finally decided to become a vet."
After spending a year working for a vet in North Carolina, he went to Ohio State Vet School. To this day, Richardson has never regretted his choice of profession.
"A lot of veterinarians have [had second thoughts], because the fact is, the more specialized, particularly when you do very, very sophisticated types of surgery and you recognize what you are getting paid, a pittance compared to what a human surgeon would get for a similar surgery, some people let that worry them," Richardson said. "The fact is, I love my job. I've always loved my job."
It was that mind-set that would not let Richardson give up on Barbaro, even when it seemed a reasonable alternative.
"It was always an issue of everyone agreeing that we would go on, because we thought we could manage his pain [with medication]," Richardson said. "That was the determining factor. You could walk up to his stall and look at him in the eye and he looked back at you. He'd eat carrots out of your hand. He wasn't lying on his side and groaning.
"I know what painful horses are like. I've seen a lot of them. He wasn't a horse that was in distress. It wasn't hard for me to want to go on. What was hard for me to acknowledge, the reality was that the long term was going to be very, very long term. That was what we discussed. The Jacksons grasped that. We all basically bought into this notion that we're just going to go and go until he tells he doesn't want to go on."
A perfect, if graphic description, of laminitis by Dr. Austin M. Moore, in Bloodhorse magazine, explains just what Richardson and his team were dealing with.
"Imagine that your shoe was actually part of your foot and inside the shoe are the bones in your foot," Moore wrote. "Now imagine a disease that causes your foot [the bone] to break loose from your shoe; while you walk and stand your foot pushes through the sole of your shoe. Eventually the shoe wears away and you start walking on the bones in your foot. This is the reality of laminitis in horses."
Richardson was convinced he could get Barbaro through the pain with all the medication. And he was right.
"I think we made the right decision on that," Richardson said. "There's hardly anybody out there that knows anything about horses that probably would have disagreed with that.
"Now, having said that, did I get crazy letters in the mail telling me I was inhumane, I should have put the horse down? Yeah, I got those. Did I get the phone calls telling me I was an awful person for spending money on a horse when there are starving people in Philadelphia? The answer is yeah, I got those.
"Cursing me out for wasting my time and rich people's money on dumb farm animals. All those kind of hate mail and voice mail. I got all that, but that's no big deal."
There is a whole segment of society that never understood the outpouring for Barbaro anyway. The reality is that thousands of people are more attached to their animals than they are to fellow human beings. Thousands more just love animals because they do.
"There's a whole group of people who understand that, and there's some people who just don't get it," Richardson said. "Some people think just because someone really is wrapped up in an animal that they therefore don't like people, and I don't think that's the case, either."
Saying that, he pointed around the room at all the posters hanging from the walls.
"You look at all the people that signed all these [posters]," he said. "I am sure that not every one of these is a misanthrope. I'm pretty sure just because you like animals doesn't make you misanthropic. I think that's kind of an important point. I like people. I just happen to like horses."
Richardson has always done his work in relative anonymity. Not this time.
"I've had a few name horses, but nothing like this," Richardson said. "To my knowledge, nobody's done anything with quite this much press.
"What you're dealing with here is just modern media, too. The media now is so efficient at getting a story out. He did it in a Triple Crown race. If he'd been a horse that had run 10th in the Derby, it was hardly a story, even if the same surgery had been done. The deal was that he came out of the Derby looking to the world like he was a super horse."
Richardson has handled the media equally as well as he has handled the horse. Very few people can do it and explain it so others can understand. He is one of those people.
He knew millions waited on the surgery that day.
"It is very easy to block that out," Richardson said. "It makes absolutely no difference if it's a 10-cent pony or [a multimillion-dollar horse like Barbaro]... It limits your options. It wasn't like I would have to stop in the middle and wonder if the Jacksons will pay if I use a second plate. That's the only thing where the value of the horse comes into play is how much money you can actually spend.
"Which is very different for us vs. a human orthopedic surgeon. If a human orthopedic surgeon gets into the middle of a surgery to fix your femur, he or she is not going to stop in the middle and go, 'Well, I can't spend more than a certain amount of money to fix it and I've run out of money,' whereas we have to do that. That does happen to us.
"In this case, the money is not an issue just because the Jacksons would have paid whatever it took because they loved this horse. And they do love this horse. Money is just not an issue. That is one of the reasons I have steadfastly refused to discuss money. People keep wanting to ask how much does this cost. What difference does it make how much it costs?
"People, their imagination runs wild and that's fine. As soon as I were to say, 'Oh, it's costing X-number of dollars' then all of a sudden, that ends up the story. That's not the story. The story is the horse is being cared for the best that we can.
"People ask me, 'Well, how come you haven't checked his semen to see if he's fertile?' It makes no difference. If he were a gelding, they'd be saving him for what he did for them."
For 6 weeks, the story was that Barbaro was making steady progress. Then, the story changed dramatically.
"Before he got into that trouble in early July, I was really starting to get optimistic at about that point," Richardson said. "He had no signs of infection, but then he started to break the pastern fusion down a little bit. We went backin, replaced a couple of screws, ended up with an infection...
"The point is that he started to have some problems much later than I thought [likely], but that's the nature of it. It's an unusual situation. And then he foundered so badly. If he hadn't foundered, the right hind was definitely under control. The right hind was markedly stressed more by the foundering in the left hind, which made my life harder and his life harder."
When problems start to manifest themselves in horses, they tend to multiply quickly.
"That's true in human medicine as well, but not to the extent that it is in horses," Richardson said. "Horses tend to snowball very fast."
That's what happened with Barbaro.
"He definitely had some pus in his left hind foot," Richardson said. "The biggest problem was the acute problem in his right hind. He got super stressed by the whole situation. It was just a perfect storm of problems right in that one spot. I think that led to his acute laminitis."
These days, Barbaro continues to have a cast on his right hind, which has healed wonderfully. His left hind is bandaged. The bandage is changed daily.
Without the laminitis, "he'd have been out of the cast [on his fractured leg] already," Richardson said. "By now, he'd been in a splinted bandage."
The right hind is still an issue, but not a major issue.
"There's details about where it stands right now that aren't perfect," Richardson said. "We've had some collapse... He's got a slight curvature of his leg, which is going to be something we are going to have to worry about down the road, the way he loads his leg. That's not my worry right now. My biggest worry is his left hind foot."
And only time will tell about that, much more time. Months, for sure.
"He's just got to stay walking," Richardson said. "If he stands and walks comfortably... As long as he does that, we can manage him a long time while the foot comes down. His foot is growing, but it is a long process."
It is sort of the equine equivalent of a torn-off toenail.
"Only it's bigger, takes longer," Richardson said. "It's more important to the exact structure of it. You'll see people who have crushed fingers that their nails come back deformed. That's no big deal. It doesn't impair their function.
"If his foot doesn't come back and have a reasonable structure, it's not going to work. So we need him to get the foot to a reasonable structure and it is not an easy thing to do. Part of it's going to be the way he heals and some of it's going to probably be just dumb luck and another will be attention to detail."
Much could still go wrong.
"He could get colic, pneumonia, get infections in his foot," Richardson said. "He could founder in any of his other three feet. There's all kinds of things that could happen, and he could have a setback in his left hind foot. He could lose ground."
Even if Barbaro gets over the laminitis, there simply are no guarantees.
"Things break in horses' legs," Richardson said. "It's conceivable he could rebreak anything that we have in there. A bone is a bone is a bone. They can break it.
"Eventually, his leg is just going to get stronger. If everything goes well, bone is the most miraculous substance in your body in terms of its ability to reconstitute itself. Everything else in your body heals in the sense of scar tissue. Bone gets as good as it ever was and better. It's the only structure in your body like that.
"There's nothing else in your body like that. Your brain sure as hell isn't. People challenge their liver, but it's not like that."
Since the colt got through the immediate days after the laminitis when Richardson had to cut off much of the hoof wall on his left hind, Barbaro has been as comfortable as possible. He had a significant weight loss after all the trauma, but is slowly getting that back. The colt grazes outside daily. Still, his future remains uncertain.
"I have to correct people when they say, 'Congratulations,' " Richardson said. "Throw me a party when the horse leaves the hospital. I honestly don't think anything's been accomplished until the horse leaves. I really don't. I know people don't believe that, but that is the truth. I don't think we've actually accomplished until the horse actually makes it. We certainly haven't accomplished our goal."
Now, Richardson, the Jacksons, Matz and everybody else can only wait.
"If I could have some miraculous way of speeding the process up... if I could have this horse out of the hospital, believe me, there'd be nobody happier," Richardson said.
"It's not because I don't like the horse, because I'm actually very, very fond of him, but admit it, it's intensely stressful, because you just worry about him all the time."
Richardson has had 27 years' worth of patients. He treats them all the same, but...
"Yeah, it is different," Richardson said. "It's become different. I've had lots of other horses that I've cried my eyes out over, been devastated when I lost them. I can reel you off dozens of them by name going back 27 years, but this is different.
"Part of it's how much I have invested, but that's not just it. It's also the weight of the wider world wanting this horse to survive. Certainly, if good wishes could heal the horse, this horse would be running in a field right now."
Doctor: Few surprises during Barbaro's surgery
(c) 2006 Phildelphia Daily News and wire service sources.
Tim Woolley Update 103, 10/15 "ACN" Fantastic!
Update 841: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. Peter just called (6:30 pm), and had heard from Michael.
Barbaro Updates: 103
Update 840: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I saw Michael Matz in his barn sunday morning, he had heard from Dr. Richardson. He also showed me some print outs he had about Barbaro, this was the most amusing: Indian Charlie: October 14.
update 8:00 am, sunday, october 15
Barbaro's Vet To Compete In The Next "Dancing With Stars" Competition
Indian Charlie - Current Newsletter
Dr. Dean Richardson has reportedly agreed to participate in the next "Dancing With The Stars" series, along with Donald Trump, Rudolph Giuliani, Eli and Peyton Manning, and Howard Stern. According to an informant who wishes to remane nameless ( ESPN's Jeannine Edwards), Dr. Richardson has chosen ABC News and Primetime Live co-anchor, Diane Sawyer as his dance partner, over his other two possible choices, Rosanne Barr and Offa Winfrey: Hey Let's face it, you gotta have pretty damn good eyesight to be a world -class surgeon!
I have a great suspicion that this announcement, however, is an Urban Legend in the making! We shall see!!!
The contest is held on Tuesday nights at 8:00 PM ET or 7:00 CT PM on ABC TV.
ABC.com: Dancing with the Stars
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Person Of The Week Nomination
Many of us have sent email to Person Of The Week at ABCTV.com, nominated Dr. Dean Richardson for this tribute and honor. If you wish to send a nomination for him, here is the email address to use: personoftheweek@abctv.com
Let's flood their mailbox with nominations for this incredible veterinarian who is doing such a stellar job treating our wonder horse.
Will you take action? Will you show your appreciation for him in this way? I personally think that this is one way that we can get more news about Barbaro's progress shared with many folks who may not know about him, and to learn more about how Dr. Richardson's efforts are reaping fantastic rewards.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Tim Woolley Update- 10/13 "ACN"
Update 821: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was on the track for my second set ... jogging Chappy, after her breeze the other day. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. It is positively chilly here this morning (my hands are still a little cold as I try to type) although it is also a cloudless sky, so hopefully a nice day ahead.
Update 7:38 am, friday, october 13
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tim Woolley Update 99- 10/11"ACN"/ Great Information Too!
Update 806: A nice article in the USA Today: Against all odds, Barbaro perseveres, it also includes some new pictures. The following are a couple of excerpts:
A surgical resection was done July 12, resulting in the removal of 80% of the hoof wall from Barbaro's left hind foot. That also explains the white sign with blue lettering that greets visitors at the entrance to the facility: "Grow Hoof Grow."
The sign is the first indication, but hardly the last, of an unwavering show of support for Barbaro.
The New Bolton lobby is filled with tributes, including 12 oversized cards from Churchill Downs. Beneath the heading "Once a Derby winner, always a Derby winner" are greetings from scores of fans:
"Hi, Barbaro. I hope you get well soon. Love, Mia."
"Best wishes, Barbaro. You're a winner and you'll pull through. Much love, Jim."
and
"He loves pushing people around. He absolutely knows he's the big boss horse," Richardson says. "He's got lots of star power -- and he knows it."
Barbaro has not required pain medication for close to six weeks. His right hind leg, with 27 screws used to repair fractured cannon, sesamoid and long pastern bones, is becoming increasingly stable. His cast was changed Monday. His left hoof is growing gradually.
If it's too soon to declare Barbaro a medical marvel, his comeback is further evidence of the fortitude that helped him to the largest Derby winning margin, 61/2 lengths, since Assault's 8-length rout in '46.
I was actually interviewed for this article, but did not make it to the final piece. The Daily Pennsylvanian (University of Pennsylvania's School paper) called up last night for a brief interview, so that piece might be coming out later this week. They were looking for others to contact them for the story: Daily Pennsylvanian Article. Now that will be fun to be in, I worked at Penn for about seven years.
The Barbaro update should be about 8 am again.
Update 805: I just spoke to Peter Brette (6:15 pm), Barbaro had a good day after the cast change yesterday. Peter had spoken to Michael who had visited. Barbaro had been out and looked comfortable.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Penn Veterinary Medicine New Bolton Center News Release, Update 10/10/06
(610) 925-6182
jrench@vet.upenn.edu
Gail Luciani
(215) 898-1475
luciani@vet.upenn.edu
Veterinarians change Barbaro’s right hind leg cast
October 10, 2006
KENNETT SQUARE, PA – Veterinarians at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital changed Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro’s cast yesterday, Monday, October 9. “We placed Barbaro under general anesthesia to remove the old cast on his right hind limb and took new radiographs to assess the continued healing of the original injuries,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery. “I was pleased with the continued progression of healing and the overall condition of this leg.” Barbaro had another successful pool-recovery, and was resting comfortably in his stall after the procedure. In addition to replacing the cast, doctors trimmed his feet and applied a new shoe on the right hind foot. A few hours after recovery, he was taken back outside to graze and was comfortable on both hind legs.
“There are no signs of infection and the primary incisions have healed surprisingly well,” said Dr. Richardson. “Because he has had a cast on for so long, there are a few cast sores, but nothing serious.”
Barbaro’s left hind foot, which had laminitis, continues to gradually improve. “There is good growth along the quarters (closer to the heel) but there will need to be much more healing along the front of the hoof,” said Dr. Richardson, who cautioned that “we still have many months of healing ahead of us.”
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, October 17, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
For more information on Barbaro, please see www.vet.upenn.edu.
In Memory Of Rosie- Beloved Cat- For RP Cathouse
Rosie, my beloved cat, had complications set in during her pregnancy. We hoped ( the vets and I) everything would end up ok but Mother Nature had other plans for her. I lost her and her seven kittens. ( I had to put her to sleep.) Rosie was born here and was the most beautiful, sweet cat who had such a calming effect on me. She was a the one kitten everyone wanted when they saw her. It is so hard to write about her because I still am having a hard time with this. .
And if you ever hear the Neil Diamond song, "Cracklin Rose" listen and maybe sing along with it she was named after that song, it is one of my very favorites.
Stella
Tim Woolley Update 98 "ACN" Excellent News
Quick funny story. Judge (who also ships horses) was shipping a horse to New Bolton. He took his son with him (little Judge). He asked Little Judge if he wanted to see Barbaro. Little Judge was pretty non-commital about it. When Judge got to New Bolton, he asked someone there if his son could go and see Barbaro. As he was asking his son said "Daddy it was you who wanted to see Barbaro, not me". Of course they were not allowed to see Barbaro anyway, but it was pretty funny the way Judge told it to me.
Update 7:45 am, tuesday, october 10
"It Takes A Team To Mend A Horse" Bellwether Magazine