Horse With Amputated Tail Gets State-Of-The Art Fly Swatter

Harnett County authorities believe four female juveniles used hairspray or perfume to set fire to the tail of a 2-year-old spotted saddle horse named Dixie last August while the animal's owner was out of town.

While Dixie has recovered, a veterinarian had to amputate her tail in September, making it impossible for the horse to swat flies.

A local company, Wheel Works, heard about Dixie's plight and donated and installed the water system in Dixie's stall.

"If you're out in the woods, and you've got flies and mosquitoes biting you, you can fight them off," said Becky Olson, of Wheel Works, who installed the system. "Dixie doesn't have anything. If she is in a stall trying to combat that, she has no way to do that."