The foal named Severn-Up was on the water’s edge of the River Severn near Avonmouth on ‘death’s door’ next to the hole, which rescuers believe was intended for his body.
Since his terrible ordeal, the horse has made a full recovery and is celebrating his second birthday.
When HorseWorld, a horse rescue and rehabilitation charity, rescued Severn-Up he was believed to be four or five months-old and weighed just 22 stone.
Joanne Vaughan from HorseWorld said: ‘Severn-Up was rescued just in time.
‘He was found lying helplessly on the wet ground, cold, weak and covered in mud.
‘He was literally at death’s door, a grave had been dug next to where he lay, ready for him to be pushed into when he eventually died.
‘He was just about able to stand if the grooms helped him to his feet, but he would soon collapse again.
‘He didn’t get to celebrate his first birthday as he didn’t enjoy human company after the way he had been treated but he is now a rather confident little chap who will wait at the gate to see us.’
He was had been fed a little at a time so as not to overload his tiny, shrunken stomach.
Abandoned on waste ground, on the riverbank, Ms Vaughan said he ‘would undoubtedly have died painfully’ had the charity not taken swift action.
HorseWorld cares primarily for horses, ponies and donkeys. They rescue, rehabilitate and rehome up to 100 animals a year that have been abandoned, neglected or ill-treated.
The Bristol-based charity began as a campaign to save the lives of working horses who were being rapidly replaced by motorised vehicles in industry in 1952.
They are funded entirely through public donations.
(Daily Mail UK - Oct 19, 2012)
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