A loooong time ago, I was a little girl who received a monthly magazine called "Jack and Jill".
one of the stories I have never forgotten was the story that is similar to Molly's ... I remember the boy's name was Jeff, and the way he got his pony to actually walk on the artificial leg was when he went and got the curry comb (they had a game, the pony had not forgotten).
If I remember correctly the artificial leg didn't have a compression shock in it, and was held in place by a strap across his shoulders (can you tell I haven't read all of your article?).
I have always thought the story was real ... or remembered it as being a true story ... it would have been pretty cruel to a myriad of children to use that type of fantasy for "entertainment".
It must have been the early sixties. Just goes to show what a human can accomplish when they have the desire, the $$$, and the intestinal fortitude to keep trying. <wave>