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 Hurricane Katrina, August of 2005, was one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the U.S. Although this occurred over four years ago, I just recently read the true story of the rescue of a plucky little pony.
Fifteen-year-old Molly had been left behind when her owners fled the hurricane. She spent two weeks alone in her stall with only a little food and water. When Kaye Harris heard about the pony, she brought her to her nearby farm. Molly spent several happy months there, but in December was viciously attacked by a rescued pit bull named Red. Molly suffered abdominal, throat and leg wounds and her vet, Dr. Allison Barca, did not expect her to survive.
The blood vessels leading to her right front hoof were damaged. One day when the vet was changing her bandage, Molly’s hoof fell off. Dr. Barca thought she would have to put the pony down, but Harris suggested a prosthetic. They met with Dr. Rustin Moore at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Although skeptical at first, after seeing Molly Dr. Moore said, “Molly’s demeanor to me after watching her showed me she’s smart, could lie down on either side, she liked to be around people and would let people help her.” He decided she would be a good candidate for the surgery, although he had never performed one of that type before.
After the one-hour surgery, Molly was able to walk on a cast that doubled as a temporary prosthetic. Five weeks later she was fitted for a permanent prosthetic, for free, by Dwayne Mara at Bayou Orthotic and Prosthetic Center. Mara had never made a prosthetic for an animal before. Molly's artificial leg sports a smiley face imprint on the bottom.
 “This was the right horse and the right owner,” Moore insisted. “Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She’s tough as nails but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble.”
Dr. Barca cautions that Molly’s operation should not get other horse owners’ hopes up too high. “It’s not the kind of thing you could do on just any horse,” said Barca, who credits Molly’s willingness to lay down as an important step in her recovery.
Fractures and other injuries to the limb opposite to the amputated limb are the most common cause of euthanasia following this type of injury. Equine limb prostheses are currently available only for amputations below the knee or hock. Molly’s small size, low weight, and lower energy level also contributed to her successful recovery from the amputation. Another important factor is the commitment of the owner, who must be willing to provide daily care over the lifetime of the horse.
Harris states that Molly prefers to have the prosthetic limb off, but also seems to ask for it to be put back on at times. "And she asks for it - she will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too.”
Since her recovery Molly has had a new job. Kaye started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. They’ve been to various places in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky and Alabama so far. Molly is scheduled to be in the Equine Village during the World Equestrian Games in 2010 in Lexington, KY.
LSU video about Molly and the surgery
Molly's Website
I couldn't find the exact number of horses that have successfully undergone amputation and prosthetic limbs, but the number is very small. Here are links to a few others.
Thor - former successful jumper, victim of abuse and neglect
Jude - donkey whose leg was cut off trying to free himself from barbed wire hobbles (that's what it says on the site, I have never heard of such a thing and hope that they do not exist!)
Gideon - stallion with hind leg prosthetic
Luigi - donkey born without a lower left front leg
Sitka - mare who has all 4 legs, but an injury to right front hoof caused it to permanently bend backwards
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