Equus Feeds Newsletter

Molly the Pony

For those who have not yet been forwarded the e-mails, it
may be necessary to introduce Molly the pony, whose story
made the rounds a while back.

Molly is a gray speckled pony who was abandoned when
hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana, USA . She spent
weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to
a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there,
she was attacked by a pit bull terrier after which her leg
became infected. It seemed that this was the end of the road
for Molly.

After surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, however, he changed
his mind. He saw how she was careful to lie down on different
sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed
people to handle her. She protected her injured leg.

She constantly shifted her weight, and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival
ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the
clinic and her story really begins there.

Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres and
anywhere she thought people needed hope.

Often towards the end of a year we may feel as though
we are at the end of our tethers and that we have heavy burdens......

In this month’s newsletter we share with you the latest
news of Molly, the pony with the prosthetic leg, who
inspires people wherever she goes !

Molly now travels and visits anyone who can benefit
from her quiet wisdom and she has inspired people
of all ages and abilities. This year in August Molly
visited the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine
where visitors had the chance to hear the presentation
"It's All About Molly".

Earlier in the year she attended the Barriers festival
in Miami, an annual event that uses adaptive tech-
nologies to help people with disabilities enjoy outdoor
activities such as scuba diving, cycling and kayaking.

In November 2009 at the Fifth International Equine
Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot
Molly was presented with the “Spot Courage Award”.

Molly continues to spreads her unique brand of cheer
to children who have similar challenges and her story
has even been made into a children's book that might
just be a perfect gift for Xmas as it is not a book about
amputation or prosthetics, but rather a book about
people and ponies!

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The photo shows
the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley
face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a
smiley hoof print behind! Molly is alive and well and has
continued to motivate and inspire people throughout the
course of 2009!