Hope For Prosthetics

Can a standardbred ever live a normal life after suffering a lower-leg fracture? If Midnite is any indication, there could be new hope for injured horses to live a life after harness racing

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Four-year-old miniature horse Midnite was given a second chance after being born without his left hind hoof and coffin bone. After being seized by law enforcement due to neglect and abuse from his owners, Midnite was brought to Ranch Hand Rescue, a non-profit farm animal rescue group in Argyle, Texas.

Midnite, who was only capable of walking on his three legs and had difficulty laying down and standing up, arrived at Ranch Hand Rescue malnourished and extremely depressed. Hoping to avoid euthanasia, Ranch Hand Rescue CEO Bob Williams began a long rehabilitation process with the mini and reached out to Prostheticare, a Fort Worth company that makes artificial limbs for people, in hopes of allowing Midnite to walk again. The company was able to fashion a prosthetic leg for the mini made of carbon graphite and nyglass stockinette with acrylic resin. Its liner is made of a foam called pelite with a leather soft distell end conforming to his leg. The prosthetic leg is even designed to look like a hoof.

Just moments after his second fitting earlier this year, Midnite dashed across the yard bringing tears to his new caretakers’ eyes. Midnite now has his third prosthetic leg, a donation from Prostheticare worth approximately $14,000, and is expected to live a long and fulfilling life as an ambassador for children, vets and other amputees.

“We have had several children who are amputees come out to the Rescue to meet him as well as a little girl who was about to have an amputation,” Mylinda Roth, Community Relations Director of Ranch Hand Rescue, told Trot Insider. “We are receiving requests from all over the country for him to make appearances. He will live his life here, at our sanctuary, where he continues to thrive daily."