"Peg Leg" Horse Still Doing Great

"Peg Leg" Horse Still Doing Great AG WORLD 30-6-21 Roger Brincker's horse, "Sweet Nothing," was headed to the meat grinder when he rescued the mare. She now lives a nearly normal life with the help of a prosthetic left hind leg. In fact, the animal may be the only horse in Western Canada to have a man-made leg. The peg leg is made from heavy duty stainless steel, acrylic resin, foam lining (which absorbs some of the pressure in the socket), and a fake plastic hoof with a hockey puck mounted on the bottom for cushioning. Seventy-four year-old Brincker, who lives near Fort MacLeod, Alberta, paid only $200 when he purchased the 5-month-old Quarter horse in 1999, adding her to his collection of other animals rescued from an early death. At the time, Sweet Nothing was happy and healthy, but five years later, she somehow broke a bone in her foot and developed an infection. "The vet did two operations, but they were unsuccessful, even though I spent about $8,000 on her," Brincker says. "I was advised to put her down." By this time, Brincker's concern for the horse was supported by a friend, Cindy Wasney, who had fallen in love with her as well. They could see that Sweet Nothing had a strong will to live. "This proud, brave horse has a dignity and courage about her, and a way of making people want to help her," Brincker says. Wasney offered to research and finance an artificial leg. Eventually, Calgary veterinarian Shawn Mattson agreed to do the amputation and fit a leg even though there's a high failure rate. While awaiting her fate, the spunky mare moved around by hopping on her remaining back leg. Mattson amputated below the hock and Sweet Nothing stayed in the animal hospital for five months. Next, Colman Prosthetics and Orthotics of Calgary built the artificial limb after casting the stump and determining the correct dimensions to correspond to the horse's center of gravity. The company generously waived the estimated $5,000 cost of making the prosthesis. Sweet Nothing's small size and tenacity helped her adjust in the days following the hour-long prosthetic fitting that was done while she stood patiently. The prosthetic leg cups her stump, which must be covered by a surgical sock. Three nylon/Velcro straps hold the device on securely. The surgical sock must be changed every two days. Though Sweet Nothing still belongs to Brincker, Wasney now boards her at a stable near Victoria, B.C., where she grazes almost year-round. She can run and do almost anything the other horses can, and seems to hardly realize she has a peg leg, according to her admirers. Brincker cares for about 100 animals at his animal sanctuary, and depends on financial assistance from others to continue his work in this field. He welcomes any donations. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Brincker, Big Julie's Rescue Ranch, P. O. Box 145, Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Canada T0L 0Z0 (ph 403 553-3759).

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