Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Ed Yeates ReportingKentucky Derby winner Barbaro could be up and running again soon. The horse underwent surgery three days ago to repair his shattered right hind leg. He broke it during the Preakness on Saturday, ending his Triple Crown bid and racing career.
Doctors say the horse could still experience complications, but they're encouraged by Barbaro's progress.
A Utah veterinarian who repairs injuries in horses all the time says a new generation of orthopedics for large animals makes it possible now to get them back on their feet again.
Miss America is a two-year old cutting horse filly. She's at South Valley Large Animal Clinic, recovering from a broken leg. Two big pieces of broken bone were held in place with two metal struts and new generation metal screws designed specifically for horses.
Roger Rees, D.V.M., South Valley Large Animal Clinic: "In orthopedics in large animals, they have developed 5.5 millimeter screw, which can take a great deal more torque and a great deal more pressure and stress."
Enough now to save animals like Miss America, and race horses like Barbaro. While Barbaro will never run again, he may live so other horses with his bloodline will.
Roger Rees: "In the case of Barbaro, for example, he would be worth far more than he would make on the racetrack, as a breeding stallion, if they can save him."
Roger Rees: "As long as we haven't violated this joint up here, or this joint down here, she will be able to move and be quite normal."
Medicine for large animals has come a long way, and it's not just legs. A two-year old pain filly broke its jaw last December. After today's repair, it will take about six weeks to heal.
New digital radiography allows veterinarians to see hairline fractures they couldn't see before. And ultrasonography looks at even soft tissue, tendons and vessels. And beyond medicine, high tech is probing the very racetracks horses run on.
Roger Rees: "There's been a great deal of research going into trying to improve the surface on which that horse impacts the ground."
There are very few disciplines for horses, Rees says, more demanding than a racetrack. Rees and his colleagues believe tiny furrows left behind after grooming racetracks may pose a threat to horses if they step in one a certain way, especially while running at a high speed.
