An Evening in Vermont

The Jacksons have been busy! Not only did they attend the yearling sales in Saratoga, in the middle of last week, they managed to slip away to East Dorset, Vermont to attend an "Equine Evening" to honor Barbaro and benefit laminitis.

Part of the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, and held in the Grand Prix Pavilion, the evening included a raffle for generous prizes. All proceeds went to the Laminitis Research Fund, the Barbaro Foundation, the program established by Gulfstream Park that oversees an annual scholarship for vet students as well as the Spring Hill Horse Rescue in Clarendon, Vt. All in all, the event raised over $12.000 for these worthy causes.

Gretchen Jackson was one of the evening's featured speakers. "I feel like I've said this so many times; Barbaro opened our hearts to what horses mean to us," she told the crowd. "We never expected what happened to Barbaro, but are thankful for all the positive things he has brought."

One of those things, as Dr. James Orsini, of New Bolton Center, noted in his remarks, is the fact that laminitis "has been turned into a household word and that has helped us gain the means to move forward and better understand the disease, and most importantly, prevent it." Orsini, who is heading up Penn's effort to conquer the disease, described some of the advances that have been made in preventative technology, including a variable temperature ice boot designed to reduce inflammation in the hoof.

According to Roy, who wrapped up the proceedings, the Laminitis Fund has raised "approximately $1.5 million." He noted that he and Gretchen continue to receive mail from Barbaro's admirers. "We have received letters from every state and 15 foreign countries," he said. "Barbaro has inspired more optimism and positive causes than we could have ever imagined."

Which is no doubt why, despite the dreary weather, when Gretchen took to the stage, the clouds parted and for the first time that day, the sun showed its face to light the twilight.