Missing Barbaro

Soon it will be a year. The furor has died down, for the most part. Barbaro has been gone almost 12 months.

Although his name pops up in fewer Internet searches than it did several months ago, thankfully, all is not quiet on the horse rescue front. Since the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner was injured in the Preakness, more than 1,500 horses have been saved thanks to the efforts of the Fans of Barbaro (FOBs).

Yes, there have been disappointments. Proposed bills did not sail right through the halls of Congress into law. Various groups promoting rescue still squabble among themselves from time to time. And horses are still being slaughtered in Canada and Mexico for human consumption in Europe and Japan.

As we approach the end of the 2007, it's fitting to pause for a few quiet minutes to reflect on how wonderful, brave Barbaro really affected each of our lives.

Mine will never be the same. I am doing the type of writing I always wanted to do, motivated by his untimely injury and death eight months later. Overweight since infancy, I inherited some stick-to-it determination from my equine role model, lost 55 pounds, and ended up a size 6. I am a gentler, kinder person since getting to know Barbaro.

Rest in peace, Big Boy. We will never forget you. You left the world a better place.