Mia

[Snowrider1]

Not sure if I mentioned this wee horse before, but if not, here she is:

This is Mia, a 16.2hh, 16-year-old Thoroughbred that Bracken's owner acquired from a previous owner who had used her for eventing/show-jumping/cross country etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/264680_10150221983523149_501668148_7457095_6924003 _n.jpg

When she arrived in Galashiels, she was in a right state. She had a sore on her back that looked like it had come from an ill-fitting saddle, she had lumps on her sides, her feet were knackered and she was badly underfed: "Walking toastrack" was possible one phrase that was mentioned.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/227407_10150179648718149_501668148_7068141_5377936 _n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/230271_10150186097293149_501668148_7112531_3310583 _n.jpg

This is the mark on her back:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/222996_10150179649608149_501668148_7068152_2487101 _n.jpg

You can almost see in her face that she's used to better things!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/225265_10150179650073149_501668148_7068154_1121912 _n.jpg

We also discovered recently that her owners had never bothered to have her teeth done, either!

Now, though, she's looking much better. She's put on weight, muscle, and is gradually going back into work. I've even had a wee walk/trot/canter in the school on her!

This pic was taken only a month or so later:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/247061_10150200968823149_501668148_7257090_468837_ n.jpg

And this is much more recent - you can see she's more alert, at least!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/DazDaMan/Horses/261976_10150232645213149_501668148_7494387_4905601 _n.jpg

(I actually don't have any full-body pics of her at the moment, mostly due to her being rugged up because of this typical Scottish summer!)

The mark on her back is permanent, as are the two small lumps on her sides, but she's not bothered by either of them, despite the worries we all had to begin with! In fact, she rather enjoys having her lumps scratched!

Now, Thoroughbreds aren't my thing, but I do really like Mia. She's very sweet-natured, well-mannered, and does her best to please. Her latest trick is to say "thank you" for her food!

[Pie_x]

Oh poor girl :( What a shame the owners did that to her its so sad. She is beautiful, glad shes in a loving home now. Were the owners that did that to her the owners that had competed her? x

[Snowrider1]

I think so, yeah.

Despite having had her for X amount of years, the previous owners didn't even shed a tear when she was loaded onto the trailer to be brought south.

I'll try to take a few more pics of her, sans rugs, at the weekend. I'm dying to have another shot on her soon!

[Hairy Fairy]

She is a sweet girl...she has very kind eyes. Glad she's being loved and cared for now though. :)

[Snowrider1]

Like I say, she's very sweet-natured, and eager to please.

Her latest thing is to say "thank you" when you give her her tea! :D

[Pie_x]

Thats awful! Its almost like they have used her as a machine and then threw her away when shes not what they want anymore!

Atleast goodness has come out of it and she is beautiful. X

[Snowrider1]

That about sums it up, yeah.

[My Crazy Clan]

what a lovely girl, how can people treat animals this way?!!!!!?

that mark? has it been stiched up???

[zoeee]

Poor thing, how can people do that to an animal, it's so sad :( That mark on her back is awful.
I'm glad she was lucky enough to go to a loving home, she already looks in a much better way & has a much happier expression on her face. She's beautiful.

[Snowrider1]

what a lovely girl, how can people treat animals this way?!!!!!?

that mark? has it been stiched up???

I don't know for certain, but I don't think so. It looks like it was caused by constant rubbing/movement on her back, so something akin to a really bad Chinese burn?

We thought the mark was perhaps causing her to dip her back when she was being mounted by a rider, but we *think* it was actually her teeth causing this issue. Like I say, her previous owners never treated her teeth in the whole time they had her...

[fell lover]

Would love to see her in the next month or so!! Poor ****** xx

[eeek]

Poor girl. Why do people do this to horses? I recently acquired a 5-year-old about to be loaded onto the meat wagon because she wasn't going to pull off any more big bets for her owner, like he hoped she would. There is absolutely nothing wrong with her but he couldn't be bothered to find her a decent home.

I think every competition horse deserves a decent retirement. It's a shame it is impossible!

[Snowrider1]

Well, I'm pretty sure Mia's got a home for life now.

And if not, well, I might be persuaded.... ;)