The human race can destroy with its dereliction and nurture with its kindness at the same time. For every account of hatred, there is one of love and healing. Similarly, in a tale of abandonment and rescue, a pinto horse who was left for dead by his previous owners has now shown exemplary resilience by participating in an equestrian competition.

The horse, who has been named Woody, was found collapsed on the side of a road in Tipperary, Ireland last autumn. After finding him in an extremely fatigued condition, it was contemplated that Woody might not make it through the night. However, the pinto horse proved all the naysayers wrong after recovering fully and becoming a show horse.

Equestrian miracle saw a near-dead horse bouncing back to life

On 15th October 2022, Woody was found on the roadside in Clonmel, weary and sick, by the national police and security service of Ireland. They contacted My Lovely Horse Rescue (MLHR), an animal welfare organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes unwanted, neglected, and abused animals. An employee of MLHR, Kelly Mellerick, took in Woody and nursed him back to health. And now, the beautiful horse is making headlines after participating in an equestrian event.

The Cork Summer Show is a historical event that is 200 years old and is organized by the Munster Agricultural Society every year. Not only did Woody participate, but last Saturday, he won his first rosette at Cork Summer Show in Curraheen after coming in second. Kelly Mellerick was beyond ecstatic at Woody’s win and revealed that everyone at MLHR couldn’t stop smiling at this commendable achievement. According to Horse and Hound, Mellerick said, “It’s just phenomenal.” The story of how Woody reached this equestrian event is an equally emotional one. In December 2022, the pinto horse found his soulmate in a young girl.

Read more: Horse, Saved on the Last Day by 19-Year-Old Equestrian Before Going to the ‘Slaughterhouse,’ Achieves an Unbelievable Turnaround

When Woody was well on his way to recovery, a fosterer working with MLHR introduced him to Orianna, a 13-year-old local. When the teenage girl came to visit the horse, it was “love at first sight” for them. Recalling their first encounter, Kelly reminisced, “He stood like a lamb and she just fell in love with him. She’s only 13 but they had a bond – I could see him straight away.” When Orianna and Woody participated in the event, the judges had no clue about the horse’s history. However, Kelly revealed, “…when they realised what had happened to him, it blew them away. His story has grabbed the hearts of the nation, and across the world.”

An emotional rescue story that gave birth to a star

When a member of the Gardai informed Kelly Mellerick about Woody and sent her a picture of him lying on the roadside, she was not sure he would survive. Mellerick recalled the incident, saying, “He said the horse has been sulkied and collapsed… I said ‘Have we got a live horse here? It doesn’t look good’.” A veterinarian was called to the scene, and Woody was taken to a nearby fosterer before being transported to MLHR the next day.

Then began a lengthy rehabilitation, however, the horse showed strength and resilience, and powered through it. According to Kelly, the doctors said that he had no muscle tone and would not be able to walk or run for some time. Mellerick said, “He had no fitness at all, it was sheer exhaustion.” However, the timely intervention of the Gardai saved Woody’s life. And now, Woody is happy and healthy, and on his way to becoming an equestrian star.

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