Barbaro remains comfortable, regaining strength in right hind leg

Barbaro remains comfortable, regaining strength in right hind leg


Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, who had the cast on his right hind leg removed on November 6, remains comfortable in the intensive care unit at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square.

The three-year-old Dynaformer colt shattered his right hind limb in the opening stages of the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course. Barbaro suffered a fractured sesamoid; a fractured proximal phalanx, or long pastern, that splintered into more than 20 pieces; a condylar fracture of the cannon bone; and a dislocated fetlock.

Dean Richardson, D.V.M., chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school, and a team of doctors and nurses from the New Bolton Center needed five hours in surgery to stabilize the limb with 27 screws and a locking compression plate.

"Barbaro's strength on the right hind limb has been gradually improving," Richardson said. "It is normal to be a bit stiff and weak after being in a cast for a long time; however, he is capable of bearing full weight on the previously fractured right hind leg even without the supporting soft bandage."

Barbaro, a homebred of Roy and Gretchen Jackson, developed life-threatening acute laminitis in his left hind foot in July and was given only a 5% chance of survival. He continues to defy those odds, however, as his left hind foot is gradually growing back after 80% of the hoof wall was resectioned.

"The left hind foot continues to slowly grow but still has a very long way to go," Richardson said. "Barbaro's attitude and appetite remain excellent, and he still takes short walks outside to graze each day if the weather permits."