This pony could barely walk because of his neglect.
After receiving a call about a pony who had experienced severe neglect, Animaux en Péril moved into action. Generally speaking, a pony or a horse should have their hooves trimmed every 6 to 10 weeks, depending on how quickly they grow.
Polly the pony hadn’t had his hooves trimmed in 10 years.
Due to the extreme overgrowth, Polly’s hooves had curled up in semi-circles, the equivalent of 540 degrees. No one knew about this poor pony’s despair, except the owner, that is. Polly was hidden away on the back of the property where no one could find him. He was far from the road with a shoddy shelter.
The owner made the decision to ask for help with his neglected animals. He got assistance from the animal welfare group out of Wallonia, Belgium, making Animaux en Péril a locally positioned sanctuary. Rescuers arrived quickly and took the neglected pony, as well as a horse that was malnourished, to their sanctuary and safety.
The rescuers were shocked at the sad state of the animals.
The animals were so emaciated when the rescue team arrived that they were stunned. Both the pony and the horse were standing in over 2 feet of manure. In fact, they were so skinny, the vet advised they were at risk of death.
Their body condition was scored at a 1 out of 5. This is the lowest score received before death by undernutrition happens. This stage is Cachexia, or excessive leanness. In this state, the body is literally consuming itself and muscles are wasting away.
A Shetland pony typically weighs between 400–500 pounds, but sweet Polly came to the rescue weighing in at just over 150 pounds. Rescuers believe the animals lived in their shoddy home for at least three months without a chance to be out.
It was obvious Polly needed a trim and fast. Even with expert care, it was likely there would be permanent joint damage, keeping him from walking normally ever again.
The sanctuary stated that in over 20 years, they had never seen a horse with hooves that were so long.
Everest (the other horse) and Polly were sheared to rid them of the filth and lice and then shampooed to clean them up and provide relief to their damaged skin. When this was complete, it was very obvious to the rescue that these animals had not received proper care for years, leaving them suffering in pain and neglect.
“It is unimaginable the pain and stress these few years brought the horses. Gnawing hunger, torturous itching, and stifling air in their confinement.”
In as little as five days, both the horse and pony were feeling better.
They were clean, fed, and wrapped in blankets. Just as important, they were making new friends.
It is likely the owner could face jail time as well as fines for neglecting these noble animals so long. In the next two months, the local prosecutor will decide if the case will see more action. Polly will need corrective trimming for a long time. The rescue’s farrier (who performs this task) will visit him monthly, reshaping his hooves and evaluating what can be done to ensure he heals properly.
Today, Polly can be found leading his best life.
Polly has healed significantly with time. He can be seen with a rounded belly and running through the rolling fields of the Animaux en Péril sanctuary, as evidenced by photos on its Facebook page. He has developed quite the winning personality and even acquired an adopted equine family.
Today, he can be found living with another tiny pony, who is a mother. Lola and her mother spend their time with Polly cruising through the pasture, scratching each other’s backs and rolling in the mud.
Neglected Pony Is Totally Transformed By A Little Love
This neglected pony was in very bad shape when he was rescued — his hooves had grown so long that he could barely walk. But his rescuers helped transform him into a whole new pony, and today on Comeback Kids: Animal Edition, we get to see him living his BEST life at a sanctuary in Belgium.
Posted by Comeback Kids: Animal Edition on Friday, 15 September 2017
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