Chief of Surgery Dean Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, reports that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro remains in stable condition with good vital signs today (July 19). “He spends several hours a day in a sling, which he has adapted to very well,” said Richardson.

Slings, which were originally designed for rescuing horses, are now common in the treatment of horses with conditions that include neurological problems or muscular skeletal injuries. They have been in use for many years for long-term management of a horse‚s movement. “We have a lot of experience in using slings for equine support,” said Richardson. “In Barbaro’s case, it is a part-time aid that we use to increase his comfort level