Rescued horses at Footprints of Joy
The recovery and veterinary monitoring program continuesThe six equines rescued from the Romanian authorities and transferred to our Footprints of Joy sanctuary last November are continuing their rehabilitation under close veterinary supervision.
Several months after their arrival at the shelter, the horses remain cautious and distrustful. The trauma they experienced clearly requires time, patience, and consistency to allow them to rebuild a relationship of trust with humans. On the other hand, the pony appeared to be in a better condition when she arrived, and was apparently less traumatised by events. She demonstrated greater confidence and spontaneously sought out human contact right from the outset.
All six animals are currently still housed in the quarantine area, separate from the other horses residing at the Footprints of Joy sanctuary, in accordance with standard intake and health-protection protocols. In recent weeks, the veterinarian carried out an initial ultrasound examination on the females to rule out any possible pregnancies. None were identified at this time; however, the examination was conducted under challenging conditions — due both to the lack of a fully equipped space and the difficulty of handling one of the mares — and will therefore be repeated in the coming months.
A second visit from the farrier has also taken place.This is an essential part of the physical rehabilitation process for the rescued equines. After approximately two months of balanced and carefully monitored feeding, all the animals are gradually regaining weight and strength.
While the rehabilitation process remains complex, the progress observed so far is encouraging.
The gradual physical improvement and stabilisation of health conditions confirm the importance of an approach based on time, expertise and continuity. Veterinary monitoring will continue in the coming months, supporting each horse along its path to recovery, respecting the animals’ individual timelines and requirements.
