Geddy Up! It's time for Derby '08!!

Kares4Rush · Post by **Kares4Rush** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:28 pm

Race horses' legs (to quote a dear friend) "are like knittin' needles."

Any injury to the leg can be deadly.

Wendy · Post by **Wendy** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:29 am

This diagram shows the many bones in a horses leg.

Middle Kingdom · Post by **Middle Kingdom** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:22 am

The fetlock joint connects to the.....first phalanx.
The first phalanx connects to the.......pastern joint.

Catchy little tune.

Soup4Rush · Post by **Soup4Rush** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:39 am

when you see that diagram, you can see how a horse's leg looks fragile.. especially all the joints that are there. still I think it is sad they had to put down such a beautiful animal. Don't confuse me with peta, Horse racing is cool, the raw power of these animals is amazing.. I just think it is sad when something like this happens..

RIP Eight Belles..

Wendy · Post by **Wendy** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:27 pm

Here's a happier ending then, a friend sent me the article today.

Meet: Molly

She's a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when 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, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony 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.

"This was the right horse and the right owner," Moore insists.
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. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, her mane felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.
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." And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. "It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse", she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people. And she had a good time doing it.

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom 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!

CygnusX1 · Post by **CygnusX1** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:46 am

Wendy wrote:Here's a happier ending then, a friend sent me the article today.

Meet: Molly

She's a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when 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, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony 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.

"This was the right horse and the right owner," Moore insists.
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. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, her mane felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.
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." And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. "It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse", she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people. And she had a good time doing it.

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom 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!

Couldn't see the pics, but a awesome story anyway Wen.

Walkinghairball · Post by **Walkinghairball** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:42 am

Wow, I'da never thunked that would be possible. How totally cool.

GO MOLLY!!!!!!!!

Middle Kingdom · Post by **Middle Kingdom** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:08 am

That's awesome!

Kares4Rush · Post by **Kares4Rush** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:09 am

Oh Wendy! That made me cry and smile at the same time.

Thank you. And Molly is indeed a beautiful pony. What courage and character too. I wish I could visit her someday.

Me · Post by Me » Wed May 14, 2008 3:59 pm

That's a beautiful story and a very intelligent pony, thank you very much Wendy!

The Preakness runs this Saturday the 2nd leg in the triple crown and I hope Big Brown goes all the way. Only 11 horses have gone all the way to win, the last being Affirmed in 1978.

Wendy · Post by **Wendy** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:07 am

Go Big Brown Go! All the way to triple victory.

Here's a link with more about Molly.
Molly's Work

Kares4Rush · Post by **Kares4Rush** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:39 am

Yes, go Brownie. I will not bet on him. Maybe some kinda combo.

Thank you for the link about Molly. I sent it on to my good "horse" friend too.