Heartwarming story!
 

:):)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.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life', Moore said, 'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.'
'She's not back to normal,' Barca concluded, 'but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

What a wonderful story! Thank you very much for sharing it :)

This really is a wonderful story. Ponies are really very special. I'm including a link to a web site that tells a similar story about a woman with cancer who came in contact with a very special pony who changed her life.

She founded Hearts and Hooves and she (and other volunteers) take these remarkable ponies to hospitals, nursing homes, hospice and other places to help other people in need. About Us: Our History—Hearts & Hooves™

I've seen the ponies lay down in bed beside a dying person and bring them much comfort. It is very remarkable and so heartwarming. I've also seen the founder Veronique have 3 ponies in her minivan!!! :eek: This is before she got a trailer to bring them with her.

She's been on Good Morning America, telling everyone about the remarkable powers of these ponies! Her story and the story from New Orleans are both so heartwarming!!!

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

That was an amazing story also. I was not aware how loving and patient these ponys are. Thanks for sharing also!

Ditto:thumbup:

What a beautiful story!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Just thought everyone could use a little "sunshine" once in awhile.;) Glad everyone enjoyed it.:)

Never too many stories like that! :) Thank you.

Thank you for sharing this wonder heart warming story about Molly. I have always known there is something about a horse......

My story isn't anything as significant as Molly's story or Hooves and Hearts, but I too, have a very special miniature horse named Quincy. I knew from the beginning that this teeny tiny little horse was going to be something else. Quincy was the tiniest horse I've ever seen -- he was right at 15" tall and weighed 12 lbs. His legs were very crooked, not uncommon for tiny minis. With our vet's help we used braces made out of pvc pipe to strenghten/straighten them. That spring, MY therapy was to sit in a chair down at the barn and hold him in my arms while he slept and his mother grazed.

Quincy has grown into a very special little guy. During the time I was busiest with him, we visited nursing homes where he would carefully walk up and down the halls around people in wheel chairs and using walkers and canes. He always seemed to pick out the people who needed him the most. Once, he walked up to this very elderly blind lady and put his head in her lap. For the most part, this lady was unresponsive, just sat in her chair -- she put her hand on Quincy's head and the smile on her face was priceless. She started talking about the big "dog" and when she felt his ears she said "Lordy, it's a horse! A horse has come to visit me". And she started talking about her days as a young girl plowing with mules......

Quincy has also "starred" in an Easter Passion Play at a local church, gone to other chairtable events in the community and visited schools. Life got in the way and I got busy and we haven't done any visits lately, but I am thinking that Quincy and I need to "hit the road again" when and if my leg heals enough to allow that level of activity.

Quincy always rode in my Town-N-Country mini van - we'd take the back seats out and he hop in the side doors and ride with his head between the front seats. It was always so much fun to stop at a red light and have Quincy stick his head in my lap and look at the poeple stopped beside us. Here are a few random pics......

Wow! What nice stories!

Chattiesmom! What a wonderful story. You have an angel there too in Quincy. I've not been around horses since I was young, and never around these tinies - but I keep hearing so many stories about their remarkable powers of perception.

Your story about him laying his head in the lady's lap is just priceless!

Yes, you must heal soon and share Quincy's gifts with those who need him most. You and Quincy are very very special!

<<<<HUGS>>>>> :aimeeyork

Quincy is adorable! It's amazing how these wonderful animals capture our hearts and never let go!:D