Sigh…. 
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Thanks? 
Could they have gotten any more info wrong?
Healthy? Not.
Happy? Anthropomorphize much?
& I thought 7 was named because he was born at 7mos?
Or was that fact changed for a better media “look”?
I would give anything to have prevented our son’s big brave horse from his sad end. It was a colic found in the morning and treated several times by the vet. He was not safe to trailer because he was thrashing. He was put down on our farm. Necropsy showed a twist. As horsepeople, we can do everything right and still have a bad end, but we sure as hell shouldn’t be waiting around for one!
If I had a horse like either of these poor animals being put on display for cash, I would pick a day this week, give them all their favorite things, say a long goodbye, and let them go.
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I’ve never told the story of a baby donkey named Toby. Ten years ago, we started taking in donkeys in need to train them and rehome them. It was just a little thing we did in tribute to our first beloved donkey. This is when we lived in Florida.
We bought a donkey gelding that came from auction. A dull acting starved donkey foal was also present. He was off formula and had been switched to feed too early. We brought them both home. They had lice, which was treated, and the older donkey did fine. We named him Xavier and he really brightened up and did quite well. He went on to be rehomed as a companion to a Mustang gelding and another donkey.
The younger one was named Toby. He was separated immediately and fed many small meals but still acted dull. Vet was out the same day and drew blood. The baby donkey’s liver was failing. He had evidently been so hungry that he ate some sort of poisonous plant. (Possibly rattlebox, which was common in northern Florida). He had lots of his favorite food before we let him go. We didn’t take pictures to post on social media. We knew his time was limited and we gave him his dignity. He had a short life but passed with food in his tummy. Toby could have had a lovely life if he had been allowed to stay with his mother. That situation really sucked. This was a beautiful little baby at the beginning of his life. He was thin but could’ve recovered if it hadn’t been for his liver. Letting toxins build up in his system until he suffered from neurological symptoms because he was “cute” would’ve been unethical. Explaining it to our young boy really sucked, but we had to. I’m comparing Toby to these animals because I understand that it’s hard to let babies go. But that’s what responsible horsepeople do. Make that tough decision for an animal that can’t.
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This is not in any way what people on FB are saying about these videos. They are using these videos as historical documentation that a 3 legged horse can survive and thrive.
Despite the fact that there are no videos of the horses as adults, and the shoe job on the one foal indicating that problems are already showing up.
The rescue has a video of the foal eating hay and this is also proof that the foal is advanced ahead of his age.
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That’s a joke, right? All babies are trying new foods at this age.
Can you imagine what this poor three legged thing looks like in a real grazing position?
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In that hay eating video she pans out to his hind end and his left rear is camped forward and out to the side like a camera tripod. She has since taken that video down.
The video is still up.
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I suppose he can graze providing he only has to reach a stack of hay bales. 
Also, while foals can have dropped pasterns and fetlocks for a few weeks, look at his lower hind legs. He’s bearing his weight on his heels and the back of his fetlocks. Sure, what could go wrong?
I will never understand why some humans prolong suffering and delay the inevitable in vulnerable creatures.
He’s a gorgeous color and the cynical part of me wonders if he’d still be alive if he were a plain red.
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Wow. In this photo, it looks like the suspensory ligament in the left hind is already failing. The toe of his hoof isn’t even touching the ground.
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This whole thing just makes me sad. His hind legs/pasterns are a mess and they sure don’t look like they are going to hold up for long. Then what, a 1 legged horse?? Ugh.
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This kind of mentality is driving me crazy.
With the rise in social media, you would think we would be promoting kindness to animals with incurable diagnosis. Instead, we have three legged foals and then posts like this (which - the FB group this comes from is an entire shit show on its own)… asking what can be done.
Accidents happen. Unfortunately, some animals are just born in a way that’s incompatible with a healthy life. Missing leg. Two headed cattle. Backwards hock. Being unrealistic about the outcomes for these animals leads to more suffering - like this poor shetland foal dragging himself along in a blanket with a hopeful owner.
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Oh no. How awful.
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At least that owner will euthanize I think. Very heartbreaking. I wonder what caused the leg to turn like that? It almost looks like the joint is facing the wrong way.
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Completely agree.
Hug it. Grieve for its short time here with us and “what might have been,” then keep it comfortable until the vet can get there to humanely euthanize.
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I saw that post. They were only asking IF anything could be done but were prepared to euthanize as indicated in their post. We do see some leg issues that will straighten on their own with time, or with a shot of something? or braces. I think that is what they were asking.
The vet appointment had been made for the same day the foal was born so he was not allowed to drag himself around for long. Poor little guy.
The post was closed so hopefully the foal was euthanized once it was confirmed it was not fixable.
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