While much of the world closely followed the progress of Barbaro’s right hind leg through the 
summer of 2006, those in the medical community, including Barbaro’s own veterinarians, were watching the left hind leg.

Barbaro, who won an inspired Kentucky Derby race May 6, shattered three bones in his right hind shortly after the start 
of the Preakness on May 20.

Surgery the next day at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., reconstructed the broken bones with pins and plates.

No matter how well the right 
leg healed, the bigger concern 
was the possibility that laminitis would develop on the left side.

On July 13, New Bolton Center held a news conference to announce that veterinarians’ worst fears had come true: Barbara had developed severe laminitis in his left hind foot, and 80 percent of the hoof wall had been removed. The colt’s chances for 
recovery were reduced to “poor.”

 

Other equine superstars, 
including the Triple Crown winner Affirmed, had lost their life due to laminitis developing in a good foot after surgery on the opposite foot forced the good one to bear more weight during the healing process.

Dr. Dean Richardson, Barbaro’s chief veterinarian, used many 
preventive measures in the weeks that followed surgery. On May 27, Richardson put Barbaro’s left hind foot in a special three-part shoe that was designed to:

• Support the sole;

• Minimize weakening and 
infection of the sole with a 
material inserted inside;

• And build up the length of the left hind to compensate for the cast being on the right hind.

Other measures included taking a venogram, or injecting a 
contrast agent into the left hind foot and taking x-rays to show where the blood flowed; the venogram indicated everything was fine, Richardson said.

For six weeks, all reports were upbeat. Then, the first week 
of July, complications set in the right hind leg, and surgery was performed several times to replace screws and plates and try to get rid of a newly developed infection.

At the press conference, Richardson said, “The horse had no real problems with the left hind leg until he started to have some problems in terms of 
comfort in his right hind at about seven weeks.”

When asked how severe the case was, Richardson said, “It is as bad as it gets.”

Richardson admitted there 
always would be second guessing on how the horse was monitored, 
but added that, “as far as the 
catastrophic type of laminitis that developed, it was very rapid.”

In response to a reporter’s 
question of what caused the 
laminitis, Richardson said: “It’s 
a problem in horses due to 
excessive weight bearing and 
inflammation.”

He added: “If I knew the answer of how to prevent this, I guarantee I would be giving this press 
conference from my mansion somewhere. It’s a devastating problem in horses that nobody has a solution to.”

Richardson performed a hoof wall resection on the left foot, removing all the hoof wall that had lost its connection to the 
coffin bone, or about 80 percent, in order to make room for a new hoof wall to grow again.

To minimize Barbaro’s pain 
in having to bear weight on a foot without a hoof wall, Barbaro was put in a foot cast with foam padding and antiseptic dressings. He also was trained to stand in a sling so he could take the weight off his feet for several hours a day, a procedure the horse apparently was enjoying. In the days that 
followed, he was said to be using the sling similar to a Jolly Jumper, bouncing off the ground.

Barbaro’s medical reports following the surgery were upbeat. Richardson said repeatedly that Barbaro had good vital signs, a good attitude, a great appetite, took small walks around his stall and found comfort in his sling.

But when asked what the horse’s chances are, the answer always was the same: Not good.

“I’d be laughed out of the 
profession if I said this horse’s prognosis is anything but poor,” Richardson told a reporter 
July 20.

Richardson said recovery would take months, not weeks, and the horse’s veterinarians were in a marathon.

He also said Barbaro’s three other feet showed no signs of laminitis, but should that change, the horse likely would lose the battle.

Barbaro’s trainer, former Olympian Michael Matz, who 
visited the horse daily, remains 
realistic about the future. On 
July 29, he told a reporter: 
“I’m not getting my hopes up. 
I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

Barbaro’s Timeline:

May 6: Wins Kentucky Derby by 6 1⁄2 lengths.

May 20: Breaks down right 
after the start of the Preakness; shatters three bones in his right hind leg.

May 21: Undergoes surgery 
at New Bolton Center; a plate and 27 screws are inserted in shattered leg. Barbaro’s chances of survival are called
a “coin toss.”

May 22: Right hind leg is fitted with fiberglass cast from hock to hoof.

May 27: Left hind leg is fitted with special shoe to help 
reduce the risk of laminitis.

June 13: Cast on right hind leg is replaced. Report is excellent.

July 3: Cast on right hind leg is replaced again. Two bent screws are replaced and three new ones are added around the pastern joint.

July 5: Cast is replaced again due to discomfort. A small 
abscess on the left hind foot is treated, as well; Richardson later explained that the abscess was not in a typical location 
to be associated with laminitis.

July 8: More surgery is 
performed on the right hind leg to treat a new infection. A plate and many of the screws are 
replaced, and a longer cast is put on to offer more support.

July 10: Cast on right hind leg is replaced again with a shorter one.

July 13: News conference is held to announce severe laminitis has developed in left hind foot, and 80 percent of hoof wall has been removed. Horse’s chances for 
recovery are reduced to “poor.”