Ruffian & Barbaro

[@NorthernSold1]

I have just finished Bill Nack's book on Ruffian... he is an absolute poet... that horse deserved the best to tell her story...and she got him...

[@JDMCiara]

Beautiful. Simply Beautiful. These two were great horses who loved to run. This brought tears to my eyes. It was very touching and moving. Rest In Paradise Ruffian & Barbaro

[@FANLIZable]

Beautiful horses ♥️ They're in the hearts of many.

[@sarahelizabethasher]

My Heaven Somewhere between the dimensions There is a meadow of blue grass Where Barbaro runs free Beside him, proud Ruffian And the stalwart Eight Belles, Slim foals by their sides, Canter on soft, soft turf While in the shade of A green oak tree An old Lab Lies watching.

[@Ruffiansea]

Top drawer. I loved these horses. I have both Breyer models (sweeties) right here in front of me. Thank you..

[@wolfsrule100]

Barbaro Ruffian thank you you showed me what horse racing is all about

[@lengua92]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting this one

[@marysueeasteregg]

probably wasted effort , answering bubblinbrownsugar616's question of 3 years ago, but: Had Ruffian accepted the cast, her life likely would have been "extended, " depending on what you mean by that term -- there would have been no need to put her down less than 9 hours after the race. If she had remained calm & cooperative like Barbaro, it would have been a few weeks before the vets would have been able to ascertain if healing was occurring. That's assuming she did not get an infection almost immediately. She was at grave risk of infection; she had an open wound (compound fracture) which had been contaminated by dirt and quite possibly by feces. Barbaro had an advantage over her, in that his fracture closed. Both horses were at risk of failure of blood supply; horses' legs have a surprisingly limited blood supply, and good flow of blood is necessary for healing. And like any injured horse, Ruffian would have been at risk of laminitis, the condition which eventually doomed Barbaro. So, Ruffian would almost certainly have lived "longer," but her chances of long-term survival and recovery sufficient to be sent home to the farm were still minimal, worse than Barbaro's, even if she had remained cooperative. Her injury occurred 30+ years earlier, and the vet techniques were not as good as they were in 2006. And even today, compound fractures remain very, very, difficult to deal with in horses. Horses with that type of injury continue to be almost universally euthanized immediately. Shortly after Ruffian's breakdown, I read that any other horse would have been euthanized; and in retrospect, I wonder if she would have been euthanized promptly had her injury occurred in any other circumstance than the media circus of the (not so) Great Match Race.

[@garbamusagulma9200]

Very nice horse

[@dsfiughdfuisdf]

Thank you... :-)

[@horsesaremylife31899]

All the good horses die before I ever got to see any foal :'( Except Secretariat he was like the only well built horse that you still see foals from. But he died of the same hoof disease. :'( We love you Barbaro and Ruffian hope your having fun running with each other on the racetrack in heaven.

[@marysueeasteregg]

Thinking about laminitis, some wonderful news that deep fans of horse racing will likely already know: Lady Eli is back in training as of spring 2016! Lady Eli, now 4, is an outstanding turf filly who is undefeated in 6 career starts. Multiple GI winner, including the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In July 2015 while returning to her barn following her 6th victory, Lady Eli's left front hoof was punctured by a nail. She subsequently developed laminitis in both front feet. Her life was in danger, but she has recovered and as I said, is back in training. A timetable for her return to the races has not been set. Everyone, please hope for Lady Eli's continued well being. Laminitis took Barbaro, Secretariat and Affirmed (among others) but it is not a death sentence.

[@wolfsrule100]

@horsesaremylife31899 i sure hope so!

[@bubblinbrownsugar616]

I have a question for anyone that can answer. I'm no expert in this sport but it's intriguing to me and I try to learn as much as possible. One of the Barbaro specials, I think his trainer said in some way Barbaro saved/extended his life because he didn't panic like Ruffian did. We all know what happened to Ruffian in the surgery room. If she didn't freak out like she did, and knowing the odds of survival before the operation, could her life have been extended?!

[@tanjexlovex]

A love to running....

[@wolfsrule100]

Do you think racehorses go to heaven?

[@horsesaremylife31899]

@wolfsrule100 Sure all animals go to heaven

[@jamielong9437]

So sad