This is completely random, I know.
Broken legs are probably a horse person's greatest fear. Unlike most dogs, horses don't do all that well with amputations, so I'm completely fascinated by the story of Riley, a mare living at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary whose leg injuries finally resulted in an experimental prosthesis - which is working out swimmingly.
Why has it taken us so long to provide this for horses? Thousands of horses are euthanized yearly due to 'unmanageable' leg injuries. While this surgery may not work for every horse, I can't tell you how happy I am to know that this is possible, and that even 'unwanted' horses like Riley have potential access to it.
When so many animals suffer ostensibly so that we can have health care, it always amazes me that many of the life saving treatments we test on animals are not available to them, and that it's taken this long for some of the most simple and life-altering procedures to be used on creatures who really, really need them.
