What is Campaining for Barbaro?

If you are unfamiliar with Barbaro, he was a magnificent thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion. Undefeated. In the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, Barbaro horrifyingly took a misstep and fractured his right hind ankle, into many many shattered pieces. Dr. Dean Richardson, at Penn State's New Bolton Center Equine Hospital, performed successful surgery on the leg, which he likened to a 'bag of crushed ice'. It took over 23 screws and plates to hold Barbaro's leg together. Brabaro did well, from May until July, when he suffered the complication of laminitis, and we all held vigil. He got better, we were very hopeful, thankful. But then more complications followed, although thankfully Barbaro had several good months, and got to finally go outside and graze and explore under faithful Dr. R's guidance. To our never ending dismay, Barbaro eventually developed the dreaded laminitis in both front legs, and was humanely euthanized on January 29, 2007.
All horse folk, and many who never even thought much of horses, had fallen in love with him. It was easy to see that something special, from expert track veterans to the lay person. He was meant for great things, and he certainly accomplished - and is and will continue to accomplish, post-humously - many, many, great things. You will hear and learn much about Barbaro in this blog. We campaign state by state as well as united, in the honor of his name, graciously given to us to use by his owner, another hero for horses, Mrs.Gretchen Jackson, to complete the tasks that Barbaro began - to help horses. We will raise funds for and support the Barbaro Fund at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania where Barbaro was treated, cared for, and loved. His (separate) Barbaro Laminitis Fund is named for the terrible disease which ultimately took our beloved Barbaro from this Earth, as well as so many horses, including the "Horse of the Century" - Secretariat.

You will learn much more about Barbaro on these pages and the good he did for people. It is simply immeasurable and the most amazing coming together in love, hope, prayer, and belief, that I have ever witnessed. We had him for eight months, but none of the Fans of Barbaro
or his campaigners will ever forget. In my opinion he is a true, God-sent, phenomenon.

We call it the "Barbaro Effect". It has reached far and wide, all across the globe, and some of what I consider to be miracles have occurred. Our faith had no bounds when we came together as a family. As all know now, Barbaro did not win the Triple Crown, after no winner in 28 years, but God had much bigger plans for this special horse and athlete. Our job is to keep going in his honor to complete all of these life or death tasks, and to love one another.