Dixie, the spotted saddle horse who was set on fire on Aug. 19, had to have her tail amputated, said her owner, Vonda Hamilton, of Erwin, N.C.

Brian Garrett, DVM, had given Dixie a 60% chance of survival following the attack, but thought her tail would probably require amputation, given that 90% was gone or damaged. On Sept. 1, Garrett sedated Dixie and performed the amputation. (see the initial story about the attack at www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6074).

“I was only able to amputate the tail between the third and fourth coccygeal vertebrae in the field,” said Garrett. “We are a long way from complete recovery.”

Dixie came out of her anesthesia well and was able to get on her feet easily, even though her left hind leg remained swollen (her legs suffered burns as well). Garrett provided Hamilton with additional instruction about bandaging the area and medicating the filly