Gia

I am the oldest horse in the stables and when they brought me here I was suffering from under-nourishment, pressure-sores and a leg wound. Despite the pain I was suffering, I made no complaints when the staff treated me and now I am still working on getting back my perfect figure

We will never know what Gia, a 25 year-old mare, experienced before she was found abandoned and brought to the Society, but her condition indicated that she had been forced into hard labor and suffered criminal neglect for many years.

Gia on the day she reached the stables – very thin, and suffering from pain all over her body
Gia on the day she reached the stables – very thin, and suffering from pain all over her body

Upon being taken in to the Society, Gia was diagnosed with under-nourishment, pressure-sores over her whole body and had a serious leg wound. The initial treatment administered to Gia included liquids and analgesics. She was treated for an extended period of time with antibiotics and frequent dressing of her wounds. She was fed special, quality food and given nutritional supplements to increase her body weight. Gia is a calm and good-natured horse who, despite suffering severe pain, allowed the groom and medical staff to treat her.

The infected wound in the leg area before treatment
The infected wound in the leg area before treatment
The bedsores are apparent on her legs and the side of her body as a result of lying on that side
The bedsores are apparent on her legs and the side of her body as a result of lying on that side

After six months of intensive treatment Gia recovered from her sores and leg wound and now has her hooves shoed and trimmed on a regular basis. She still needs to gain weight, continues to get nutritional supplements and, on veterinary advice, is no longer ridden but here in the Society she is allowed to enjoy a calm and pleasant life.

Update: In the end of the rehabilitation process Gia was adopted by owners of a private horse farm.