If you aren’t an animal lover, it is hard to explain how the death of a horse you never met can make you weep. Animal people understand. We appreciate that Barbaro’s owners were willing (and had the money) to try and save Barbaro’s life, against the steepest of odds. It was Barbaro’s ability to battle his setbacks when most horses would refuse to put up with casts and slings and activities that were not natural for a horse that made us appreciate his courage. For anyone that has ever had a pet that needed expensive medical care they couldn’t afford, Barbaro represents what we would have done if we could afford it. Thanks to owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Dr. Dean Richardson and his staff at the New Bolton Center learned and developed treatment techniques that might save a horse down the road. That is the only good news about Barbaro’s passing. Pictured, above left, is Barbaro with Dr. Dean Richardson.