When I see a story like this, I am reminded of the many geriatric/handicapped horses I've had. Particularly Cassy, the gal in my avatar. She was 20 something when I got her, and by the time we put her down about 4 years later, she had taught me more than any book or school teacher ever has. She ended up with knees that fused solid from arthritis, unfortunately in the worst possible way, but despite the fact that she could barely walk, she would always hobble as fast as she could out into her run-in and greet me with a nicker every time I went out to see her. I think some of the best horses in our lives are the ones that nobody else would even give a second thought to. :) Very neat story.