Abandoned female horse learns to walk again with an artificial leg
In a first-of-its-kind effort in Mysuru, an abandoned and severely injured female horse (mare) is slowly learning to walk again on a prosthetic right foreleg.
Nearly two months ago, People for Animals (PFA), Mysuru, received a distress call from Sahukarhundi in Yelwal Hobli about a horse with a grievously injured forelimb. By the time rescuers reached the spot, the animal’s right foreleg had been crushed and was hanging by just a flap of skin. She was immediately shifted to the PFA Mysuru shelter for emergency care.
Amputation only solution
Veterinarians estimated the horse to be around four years old based on her dental formula. Upon examination, Dr. Amardeep Singh and Dr. Kiran found the injury to be severe, leaving amputation as the only viable option. Though the exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear, the horse is believed to have met with an accident, resulting in a severe fracture.
The surgery was successful, but the real challenge began afterwards. Post-operative care required intensive management, including daily-wound dressing, medication and constant monitoring, as the horse struggled to balance on three limbs. “For the first time, we wanted to try a prosthetic instead of the heavy casting that is usually used,” the team noted.
Two-month dedicated efforts
After nearly two months of dedicated treatment and rehabilitation, the wound healed well. At this stage, in collaboration with Colonel Dr. Navaz, CEO of PFA Bengaluru (Wildlife), the possibility of fitting a prosthetic limb was explored.
Horse adjusts to a new life
Dr. Navaz recommended a prosthetic solution and referred the case to aeronautical engineer Suprith Gowda from Bengaluru. The customised prosthetic limb was subsequently designed and developed by Suprith Gowda along with his team of students from Gopalan College of Engineering and Management, Bengaluru.
The team initially considered using 3D printing technology. However, given the significant weight-bearing requirements and the need for long-term durability in a horse, they opted for an alternative design and material approach to ensure that the prosthetic would be lightweight, stable and capable of comfortably supporting the animal.
The team made repeated visits to Mysuru and successfully designed the prosthetic. Today, the mare is slowly learning to walk with her new limb, regaining not just mobility but also balance and confidence.
“Slowly, she has started to adjust to the new life. This collaboration demonstrates how technology and compassion can work together to drive meaningful change in animal welfare. We deeply value this partnership and the renewed quality of life it has made possible,” Savitha Nagabhushan, Managing Trustee, PFA Mysuru, told Star of Mysore.
The team also acknowledged the encouragement and support extended by Sunita Prabhakar, Director of Gopalan Groups of Institutions, whose leadership made the collaborative initiative possible.
Savitha emphasised that the prosthetic fitting marks a significant step forward in animal rehabilitation practices in the region, demonstrating how innovation and empathy can restore dignity to even the most vulnerable lives.
This collaboration demonstrates how technology and compassion can work together to drive meaningful change in animal welfare. We deeply value this partnership and the renewed quality of life it has made possible. — Savitha Nagabhushan, Managing Trustee, PFA Mysuru
This post was published on March 3, 2026 6:10 pm