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Miniature Horse Heads Home After Receiving Prosthetic Limb At CSU

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - A miniature horse headed home on Wednesday after quite an ordeal.

The horse named Shine was attacked by a dog near Pueblo and his damaged hoof had to be amputated. But thanks to the veterinary teaching hospital at Colorado State University, Shine can trot on.

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(credit: CBS)

Shortly after Shine was attacked his owner, Jacque Corsetino, was facing two hard choices -- either euthanize Shine, or go down the risky path of trying to fit her horse with a prosthetic limb.

"This was his only chance of survival and I knew I couldn't say goodbye just yet," Corsetino said.

After finding Shine bleeding from the dog attack late last year, Corsentino brought him to CSU's veterinarian hospital where he underwent a rare amputation surgery and was prepared to receive his very own prosthesis.

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"He had to fight for two months before we got here, and I knew if he could fight that hard, that he had the fight to make it through the surgery," Corsentino said.

On Wednesday Corsentino watched Shine nearly break into a trot on the second day with his new limb.

"This is the most emotional I have ever been in my entire life," she said.

Dr. Laurie Goodrich performed the surgery. The prosthesis has mountain bike tire tread at its base.

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Dr. Laurie Goodrich is interviewed by CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito (credit: CBS)

"Sort of like a ski boot, if you will," Goodrich said.

She said there were no guarantees, but Shine's outlook is promising.

"It's really just a thrill and a privilege to be able to treat a horse like him," Gooddrich said. "He's been really tough through all this."

As a reward for his hard work Shine got his favorite candy -- Gobstoppers. Now Corsentino hopes Shine can be an inspiration for others.

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"That's our story, and if Shine can overcome it, then we want others to feel the same way," she said.

On Wednesday Shine returned to Florence where he lives with Corsentino.

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