Heidi, a pony once mistaken for dead on a muddy construction site, has astoundingly risen from the brink of extinction. Today, she radiates health and vitality, capturing her transformation in a series of poignant images.
In April 2018, a distressing call led volunteers from RSPCA to a construction area in County Durham. They discovered Heidi, a pony, pushed to the limits of endurance.
Covered in excruciating sores and worn out, this was considered among the worst neglect cases encountered by the rescuers.
Fast forward two years, and we see a different Heidi. She’s healthy and brimming with life, a testament to her remarkable journey to recovery, a tale that has touched the hearts of Bored Panda’s readership.
The spokesperson for Here 4 Horses, one of the charities that aided Heidi’s rescue, vividly depicted Heidi’s transformation.
Recalling Heidi’s condition at the construction site, the spokesperson narrated how the frail, filthy, drained pony was abandoned.
Upon her discovery, the rescuers, a combination of volunteers and members of Here 4 Horses, noted her terrible pressure sores and protruding bones due to starvation. Her blood protein levels had also plummeted, necessitating a blood transfusion.
With blood donations from two healthy horses, Heidi was placed on an IV drip. Her sores were carefully dressed with custom-made pads. Still, they took considerable time to heal due to their location.
Heidi initially hesitated to lie down during her recovery, plagued by the fear of being unable to rise again.
Yet, with some coaxing, she resumed lying down and gradually perked up following her enrollment in a weight gain program.
By August 2019, after the arduous journey to recovery, Heidi was the epitome of health.
However, as Wendy Suddes, founder of Here 4 Horses, told Bored Panda, such neglect cases are sadly frequent.
They often stem from a lack of understanding or cruelty, highlighting a prevalent problem in horse care and handling.
The public, touched by Heidi’s story, expressed their joy at her recovery but questioned how she had been allowed to fall into such a tragic state.
With comments such as, ‘She is so beautiful. How could they have neglected her so badly?’ and ‘My God, what a terrible story but a lovely ending,’ the narrative has sparked an outpouring of support for Heidi.
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