Molly the Pony is amazing for many reasons: her tenacity in surviving after she was left behind by owners fleeing from Hurricane Katrina, her stoic strength after a dog attack that ultimately destroyed her front leg, her indomitable spirit to survive the amputation and her ability to thrive with the aid of a prosthetic leg.
Molly the Pony, A True Story, written by Pam Kaster and published by Louisiana State University Press, tells the story of how Molly – and the people in her life – persevered through everything and achieved a seemingly impossible recovery.
Today Molly travels to children’s hospitals, nursing homes and senior communities, among other locations, sharing the message that it is possible to survive and thrive after seemingly insurmountable life changes.

Internet Phenomenon
I first learned about Molly’s story from an e-mail forwarded by my friend Patience Prine-Carr. She sent me a copy of a blog posting about Molly the Pony written by Fran Jurga, editor of Hoofcare & Lameness: The Journal of Equine Foot Science.
Thinking, “I’ve got to review this book for Views & Reviews,” I contacted Fran to find out more. Next day, another friend sent me the same e-mail, and the next day brought more copies of the same e-mail from other friends, including California Riding Magazine’s Editor, Kim F. Miller. Molly the Pony had become an Internet phenomenon, as well as a wonderful book for children – or anyone – who loves horses and values inspiration.
When I reached Fran, she was amazed at how far and how fast her blog posting had spread. “I don’t know who the first person to circulate my blog was,” she told me, “but it went from being read by about 200 people a day, to the latest stats now showing 10,000 visitors! I’ve heard from people as far away as Australia and England, as well as Canadians and Americans.”
Fran calls Molly “a smart pony with a serious survival ethic. If you know a child, a library, a hospital, or maybe a therapeutic riding program that can use a lift, here’s a book that can do that.”

Funding a Future
Molly’s fund, Kids & Ponies – Molly’s Foundation, is currently being set up by her new owner, Kaye Harris, of St. Rose, LA, to help support Molly and other ponies who perform a valuable role in our world. Kaye’s stable, on the western edge of the greater New Orleans area, is a comfortable retirement home for 20 ponies who she says “have earned their rest” and, in turn, help provide an ongoing educational opportunity for children and others to increase awareness and appreciation of horses and ponies.
Molly has become an important part of that effort. “Molly is happiest when she’s doing something,” Kaye reports. “Recently, we took Molly to a senior community where she also charmed a busload of autistic children who had been brought in to meet her. She aced the trailer ride with no problem. She loved meeting the seniors and the kids, and they loved her.” The publication of Molly the Pony will help carry that experience to others.
“I believe we are in this lifetime to help others – all of us – and sometimes a smile or an encouraging word can be more help to someone than we will ever know,” Kaye says. “Molly’s a symbol of New Orleans,” Kaye says. “She’s not back to normal, she’s back to better.”

The Road Back to Better
Acknowledging the people who contributed to Molly’s recovery, Kaye says, “If every person involved in this hadn’t been involved, it wouldn’t have happened.” It took a knowledgeable and committed team to bring Molly “back to better.”
Kaye recalls the early days of taking care of Molly’s injured and affected leg. For three weeks, she changed what she calls a “really nasty bandage” every day. Molly was kept in a stall for the first day, then she roamed Kaye’s front yard.
“I suspect that’s why she survived,” Kaye theorizes. “She is so smart. This pony picked a slight incline to enable her to shift her weight, and found a little dip in the ground to lie down. She walked on three legs for three weeks. When it became clear that she was going to lose the hoof capsule, I got on the Internet and researched amputation. Everyone said she should be put down, but I had gotten to know Molly, and I knew she wanted to survive.”
Initially, Molly’s regular vet, Allison Barca, DVM, didn’t think amputation was a viable option. But Kaye still championed the idea, bringing her knowledge of Molly and her commitment to Molly’s care into the overall equation. Eventually Allison agreed, and she contacted Louisiana State University veterinarians, who initially thought it a lost cause, as well. “It can’t be done” seemed to be everyone’s first reaction, but Allison – and Molly herself – convinced them otherwise.
On her blog, Fran described the rationale of LSU surgeon Rustin Moore, DVM: “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.”
Fran’s blog quotes Dr. Moore: “This was the right horse and the right owner. 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 that Moore factored in, according to Fran, is having a truly committed and compliant owner who was dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.
Kaye gratefully acknowledges the donations that made Molly’s surgery possible, from Jill Starr and Lifesavers Horse Rescue and the Humane Society of the United States. Molly’s surgery took place on Martin Luther King Day 2006, when LSU’s veterinary surgery was officially closed, and the many veterinary personnel who were interested in Molly could be present for this unusual procedure. Four days later, Molly went home with a temporary prosthetic leg.

New Leg, New Future
As Kaye committed herself to Molly’s future, she knew she had strong support from Allison. “I researched prosthetic makers, but nothing worked out. Then Allison found Dwayne Mara, who designs human prostheses, and his interest and commitment made all the difference. Allison explained to Dwayne how horses move, and Dwayne watched how Molly moved. Not only did Dwayne design a prosthetic leg that works incredibly well, he revises the fit as Molly’s stump changes over time, and he generously donated his services.”
As Allison reported on Fran’s blog, “The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life. 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.
These days, smiles follow Molly wherever she goes. Dwayne designed the bottom of her prosthetic leg with a smiley-face image that leaves a smile-print in every impression made by Molly’s new leg. Even better are the smiles she brings to the faces of children, seniors and everyone she meets.
Thanks to author Pam Kaster and Molly the Pony, A True Story, those smiles will brighten lives for a long time to come. And thanks to the Internet, a lot more of us discovered Molly a lot sooner than we would have before the information age!

Happy Reading, Happy Riding
Molly the Pony, A True Story is available from numerous sources, including publisher Louisiana State University Press at www.lsu.edu/lsupress. If you would like to purchase the book where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Molly’s fund, contact any of these three sources: Hoofcare Publishing at www.hoofcare.com/mollythepony, author Pam Kaster at www.bayouponytales.com or Molly’s owner Kaye Harris at ponytalesnola@aol.com. You can also search for Molly the Pony on www.myspace.com.
Here’s to Molly and to another month of happy reading and happy riding … and another month of smiles.