Utah resident Donna Ramsey wonders if divine intervention had its hand in her decision to list a miniature pony for sale on Sunday.

Within hours of listing Philcois Buckshot, a 7-year-old bay-leopard appaloosa registered with the American Miniature Horse Association, on an Internet site, Ramsey heard from a Texas woman.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Amarillo, Texas, wanted the miniature horse that Ramsey had nicknamed Tombstone, for Christian Vasquez, a 3-year-old boy from nearby Pampa who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Make-A-Wish Foundation spokesman Brent Goodrich in Phoenix said the miniature horse from Utah would replace another pony mauled to death about one week ago. The group that tries to provide terminally ill children with their wishes gave Vasquez what he most wanted — a white pony — in August, but two pit bull terriers got onto the family's property last week and killed the horse.

The foundation also presented the boy and his family with a small cart and tack for the horse named Anniversary just a few days before the attack occurred.

"The family had just built a stable area with a 4 1/2 foot tall fence and there were two miniature horses in it, but the dogs only went after Anniversary," Goodrich said. "It was a really unfortunate accident more than anything else."

When the news of Anniversary's death was reported, people from all over the country responded with donations and offers to help find another miniature horse for Vasquez, he said.

"It was exciting to see the response. We had at least six offers from people to donate the money to buy Christian another pony," Goodrich said, adding enough money was donated to also purchase electric fencing that would keep other animals out of the horse pen. "We had an outpouring of support from all over the country."

Ramsey, who was paid $1,500 for Tombstone, said she is delighted to know that her "gentle boy" is going to a good home.

"Tombstone is a perfect little horse for a child," Ramsey said Monday, the same day he was picked up by a Make-A-Wish volunteer for the trip back to Texas from his home in New Harmony, a rural community about 38 miles north of St. George. "He's just a very calm boy. He looks like a black-and-white spotted dandelion with his winter coat on right now."

Tombstone, a 250-pound gelding, is perfectly content to walk with a child and would "do anything" for a treat, she said.

"I think he would probably follow you into the house," said Ramsey, who raises miniature horses and a few donkeys on a 24-acre ranch. "I really feel like this was God's hand in this. It's just wonderful. I couldn't have picked a better home for him."

The Amarillo chapter of Make-A-Wish plans to present Vasquez with his new pony today, Goodrich said.

"Tombstone is going to be a great substitute for his first little white pony," he said. "His family is just terrific and we're excited to be able to do this for Christian," who turns four on Nov. 11.

According to an Associated Press article, the two dogs that attacked Anniversary were picked up and later euthanized.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com