Sheriff cares for filly dropped on road

MORIARTY, N.M. (KRQE) - When they found her she was scraped up, in shock and lying in the middle of State Highway 41 a few miles south of Moriarty.

"She" was an approximately 6-month-old brown filly that Torrance County Sheriff Heath White says likely survived quite a fall Thursday.

"We're believing she fell out of a trailer she was being transported in," said White.

Most horses who have similar types of falls don't survive.

"They're usually put down right there on the side of the road because of their extensive injuries," said White. "But I believe because she's so young, you know, she's only about 6 months old and she's really limber."

After getting her out of the road, the horse was taken to a veterinarian who found she had no broken bones.

White said there were no signs of abuse and that she seems to have been well taken care of prior to her possible fall. She also doesn't appear to have anyone stepping forward to claim her.

"I'm kind of surprised we haven't heard anything from the owners or the people who were hauling this horse," said White.

So without a home to go back to, White took her in and is keeping her in a quarantine pen at his ranch south of Edgewood.

Under White's care, the filly, who White's daughter named "Flicka," is starting to recover but isn't fully healed yet. She's still a little shy and is limping and favoring her back right leg.

Flicka will need further examination to determine whether there are any micro fractures in her leg or hip.

Once she's checked out, White hopes he can find a good home for Flicka assuming the owner doesn't come forward.

If you are Flicka's owner, you can contact the Torrance County Sheriff's Office at (505) 246-4773 

CORRECTION: In the broadcast version of the story, "Flicka" was referred to as a colt. A colt is a young male horse, not a young female horse.