LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A miniature horse named Mickey was killed Thursday when a tree blew down in a gust of wind in the northwest Las Vegas valley.
Sydney Knott, president and CEO of Horses4Heroes, a Las Vegas nonprofit, said it happened at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Horses4Heroes is near Lone Mountain Road and Buffalo Drive.
“He was a miniature donated by a lovely family in Kingman, Arizona,” Knott said. “Everybody will miss him. He was black and white with a black mane.
The tree that hit Mickey wasn’t on the Horses4Heroes property, she said. “It couldn’t be helped,” she said.
Thursday’s rain came along with some wind gusts. Rainy weather could continue in the forecast.
Mickey came to Horses4Heroes from the Allen family, who also donated two other minis, Daisy and Minnie, along with “Fat Frank the Foreman,” a Nigerian Dwarf goat that “rules the mini horses,” according to Connie Allen.
She donated them because she knew that they had a lot to offer through the Horses4Heroes program. Horses4Heroes provides affordable outdoor recreation programs for the children of active duty service members, veterans and first responders. They also match horses with veterans, first responders and others for mental health and wellness programs.
“I know they made a difference, especially Monster,” Allen said, using the nickname she had for Mickey. His registered name was Little Toy Soldier, she said.
“He was everyone’s favorite,” she said. The little horse was full of “spunk and vinegar,” she said, remembering how he would always search out carrots in people’s pockets.
