When sick or injured animals end up at a rescue, there's no guarantee he or she can be totally rehabbed from their ailments, if at all. One lucky horse that entered Colby's Crew Rescue not only found physical rehabilitation, but a second chance at life.
According to the Unwanted Horse Coalition, there are approximately 6,000 to 10,000 horses taken in by rescues at any given time. Much of the time, the horses are in need of medical care before they're able to find a forever home. This was the case with a 10-year-old Belgian gelding named Shane.
Shane was brought to Colby's Crew after he was rescued from and auction in July 2021. The rescue website said that Shane was "incredibly lame when he arrived, and his feet were in the worst condition that we had ever seen." However, "he is getting better every day and we hope that he will make a full recovery."
The resilient horse has been documented on the "ohkaytacos" TikTok page a couple of times. Others at the rescue have already found happily-ever-afters, a few will stay at the rescue permanently, and some are still in waiting.
In a now-viral tweet made by The Dodo, Shane's story was told from the beginning of his relationship with the rescue. He could barely walk due to the state of his overgrown hooves.
"His hooves were so hard for him to pick one up because it was painful for him," rescue founder Allison "Ally" Smith said in the video. After a visit from "a world class farrier named Antonio," Shane's not just walking better — he's running again.
"He's probably one of the most grateful horses I've ever seen," she said.
The rescue began after Smith and wife Olivia pulled their first horse (Colby) from slaughter.
"Colby is the very reason why our rescue exists today! Because of him, we wanted to help other horses that had the same fate. Colby was rescued from slaughter in August of 2020. He was terrified of people, as he was severely abused and neglected," their website reads.
"Since being here with Ally at the rescue, he has overcome all obstacles," it continues. "He now knows what unconditional love is and will do just about anything for his person. Because of Colby's past, he is best suited to stay with Ally forever. He looks to her for confidence and reassurance. Ally has also fallen in love with this goober."
In another TikTok video, Smith posed the question "if not me, then who?" They've rescued an estimated 80 horses since 2020 with no signs of slowing down. Nursing student and Virginia resident Smith has a long history riding, grooming, and training horses while Olivia captures the special moments.
There are only a few horses currently available for adoption, but all of them can be sponsored to help pay veterinary costs via the rescue's website.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
