The famous Chincoteague ponies welcomed a new addition a few days ago, who then required immediate medical attention.
Foal No. 84 was captured by Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, the organization charged with the care of the ponies, who determined that the filly had been born without a rear left hoof. She rode four hours with volunteers to medical assistance. Her mother, Jewel, wanted to part of the situation and would not cooperate to come with her filly.
“We then had to figure out what the next move was, for most horses it will mean euthanasia, but where this pony was born with this deformity, it may adapt very quickly to a prosthetic,” the department posted on Facebook.
The foal will never be able to be ridden by humans, but providing her care with a prosthetic hoof while she is young enough to learn to use it “is a once in a lifetime situation.”
A makeshift prosthetic was placed on her leg and volunteers attempted to introduce the filly to a Chincoteague pony mare who had lost her foal a few weeks ago. The mare’s milk returned and she accepted foal No. 84 as her own. They are now inseparable.
“This filly is so sweet and deserves the best, we wish her the best of luck in all the medical hurdles ahead, she is in good hands and we promise to keep updating with footage of this amazing filly who we don’t have a name for yet,” the department wrote of the filly who will remain off the island.
The department added that the veterinarian for the Chincoteague ponies has cared for many of them, but never one that was born without a hoof. Newborn foals are born with a soft, smooth layer of tissue covering their hooves called eponychium. Foals are usually born front hooves first, and the eponychium ensures they do not injure the birth canal or their mother while in the womb.
Within moments after birth, as air comes into contact with the soft tissue, it begins to harden and usually falls off within 48 to 72 hours of birth.
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Rebecca Barnabi
