Neglected Bertie was just eight months old when he was attacked by his owner's dog in the field he lived on with his emaciated mother, Kiwi.
The young horse sustained serious wounds and developed blood poisoning after being mauled by the vicious dog, but his callous owner simply left the chestnut warmblood cross to suffer rather than calling a vet.
By the time Bertie was rescued by animal welfare investigators his injuries were so serious a vet was on the brink of putting him down - but changed his mind at the last minute to avoid upsetting a child that was on the site.
Instead Bertie and his mother Kiwi - who was by then so thin her ribs were protruding dangerously - were taken to Shores Hey Farm rescue centre in Briercliffe, Lancashire, where they began a remarkable four-year journey back to health.
Now plucky Bertie has rewarded his new masters by winning a rosette at Equifest - a national competition for rescue horses.
Equine and data services manager Amanda Berry said staff from Shores Hey cried 'tears of joy' when Bertie took fourth place in the competition, ridden by 21-year-old rescue centre worker Daisy Shufflebottom.
'We're all so delighted with Bertie and how far he has come since the attack,' she said.
Bertie was still suckling from his dangerously underweight mother Kiwi when he was rescued from a farm in Whalley, Lancashire, in December 2008, after members of the public reported the dog attack.
Animal welfare investigators feared the foal was close to death when they found him unable to stand, with several wounds, a low body temperature and a rapid heart rate.
Later farmer Simon Fielding who owned the two horses and the dog was banned from keeping horses and ponies for ten years and ordered to pay £9,000 in legal costs after a landmark prosecution by equine charity the Horse and Pony Protection Association.
'Bertie was found by one of our welfare officers savaged by a dog and his mother was a pathetic mess - she was so skinny and still feeding Bertie so all of her nutrients were going to him,' Amanda said.
'We were called to the farm by members of the public who reported the attack and we found both Bertie and his mum were left for dead.
'The mother was so thin - it was shocking really. Everything she had she was giving to him because he was still suckling. The carers who nursed him say that he’s a miracle because septicemia had set in and he collapsed.
'The vet was called and he was going to be put down because his injuries were so bad, but there was a young child there and they didn’t want to put him down in front of the child.'
It took eight hours of struggling before the vet was able to get Bertie into the trailer and supported by slings, but the resilient foal survived the critical first 24 hours after his rescue.
Amanda explained how there is a danger of horses' lungs giving up if they lie down for long periods of time.
'The slings were helping to support him and we had them in for weeks,' she said.
Shores Hey worker Daisy Shufflebottom took over Bertie's training this spring, and his speedy progress has confounded staff at the rescue centre.
'Within just three weeks he was walking, trotting and cantering around our arena, which is amazing,' said Amanda.
Despite being one of the worst cases the rescue centre has ever dealt with, Bertie has flourished to become a thriving and much-loved member of the Shores Hey family.
Amanda said: 'Bertie is a real gentleman. His attitude is great and he’s very mild mannered when you think about what’s happened to him. He’s bright, alert and happy. He’s just adored by everyone.'
(Daily Mail UK - August 24, 2012)
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