The Little Three-Legged Pony That Could

CBS Evening News: Molly The Prosthetic-Leg Wearing Pony Shows Kids That Hope Limps, But Still Lives On

(CBS)  With Molly, hope limps, but it still lives. On three good legs - and one prosthetic one.

You see, Molly is a three legged pony. CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann has the story.

Kaye Harris rescued Molly after hurricane Katrina - but then right after there was a near tragedy. A pit bull she also rescued got loose and mauled Molly.

"One of her legs was so bad she could hardly stand," Harris said.

One of Molly's legs was too hurt to save. Like most horse people, Harris thought that losing a leg meant losing the horse.

But Harris also sensed Molly was different.

Harris called Louisiana State University's vet school. Its surgeons agreed to amputate the rest of Molly's bad leg.

Molly recently took her first steps on a prosthetic leg - one of America's only ponies that has one.

"She had very rough times,” Harris said. “And she continues to survive, thrive, and bring help and hope to others.”

And Molly seems to have one special gift - with kids who are a little different.

Kim Batlz’s son Ben had bone cancer last year.

Eventually doctors had to remove his right leg. At 7, learning to walk again, he wondered how he would fit in at school.

Then at a camp for cancer kids, Ben met Molly.

"He just connected with Molly and hung out with her," Kim said. "And was awestruck that she had prosthesis and was walking so well."

"You felt comfortable with her. In what way?" Strassmann asked.

"She was kind of like me," Ben explained.

"I think seeing Molly actually surviving - and doing so well - I think it helped him say, hey, I can handle this too," Kim said.

The day after meeting Molly, Ben went back to school.

He's never looked back.

"There is something about Molly,” Ben said. "You have to see it in action. But she gives people hope."

Just ask Ben Baltz - if you can get him off his skateboard.

[Msdolores]

I first learned of Molly from the children's book written about her titled "Molly the Pony...a True Story" by Pam Kaster. The bottom of Molly's prosthetic limb contains a smile face so that when she walks, she leaves a smile wherever she goes! She is a true animal heroine and an inspiration to all. Thank you for continuing her story!

[dans_at_cbs]

this is test from dan

[barbaraf4]

Wonderful story!

[NMlost]

Couldn't get the video to work. Just kept playing the commercial over and over...grrr. Anyway, seems like a number of years ago, there was a Thoroughbred stallion with a peg leg, but it takes an extraordinary equine to deal with a prosthesis. Yay, Molly!

[toooldtovote]

Like Tom Smith said, You don't throw away the whole animal just because it's beaten up a little.

[evian_ycnan]

Friend of mine, Bill Newhel of Omaha had a three-legged pig.

Smart damned animal.

The house caught fire and the pig raised a ruckus, woke up Bill and his wife and the family escaped a sure death. Then, too, my friend was plowing in the field and his tractor flipped over on him. The pig heard him crying for help, broke out of his pen, and dug Bill out from under the tractor. Saved his life. I asked Bill how the pig had come to lose his leg and Bill said, "Ya got an animal that smart, ya eat him a little at a time."