Generally children cope better than adults when faced with death - and keeping calm in such circumstances 'because of the children' helps adults too.
I had the misfortune to hit a fallow deer on the A380 Haldon Hill nr Exeter a few years ago. She ran across, jumped the crash barrier then stood still. I braked but sadly couldn't miss her. I couldn't swerve because the road was busy and the verge has a deep storm drain. As she was propelled down the road ahead of me and not back over the bonnet (Oh dear that bonnet again)I know I was braking really hard though still wonder if I could have done more. Poor thing, dead by the time I got to her but still haunts me.
You have my sympathies DA. I am surprised that pony bodies are left but at least it will then be dealt with naturally and be food for many other creatures eventually even for fungi and bacteria, better than our over sanitised methods of dealing with our own deaths.