Horse found in horrible conditions

BETHANY, Conn. (WTNH) -- Animal control officers were called to a farm in Bethany after a horse was found covered in manure and mud.

Cheyenne can't tell her story, but her past is difficult to hear.

"It makes me very angry and it makes me very sad," said Karen Lombardi, Animal Control Officer, "that someone would let this happen."

Lombardi says they discovered the horse in this Bethany barn deep in the woods off Cheshire Road.

"In a small stall that was probably three feet deep in mud and manure," said Lombdari.

Police say she hadn't taken a step since winter.

"Her feet are overgrown. Her skin is in poor condition from the crusted manure that she was living in," explained Dr. Stacey Golub, Equine Veterinarian.

After what Cheyenne's been through, you can imagine she wouldn't trust anyone, but the doctor says that's not the case at all, she's quite friendly.

"She's very forgiving," explained Dr. Golub, "she has every right to hate people and she doesn't."

She says with her good attitude, appetite, and the right caretakers at Locket's Meadow, a brighter future is ahead for her.

"Everything is going to be gradual and in stages. She'll come out the other side and she'll be okay," said Kathleen Schurman of Locket's Meadow. "Whatever job she's going to have we won't know for a long time."

They usually train rescue horses for therapeutic riding, but if Cheyenne can't do it, she'll have to settle for a comfy retirement.

Unfortunately, Cheyenne's story is not unusual for Doctor Golub.

"It never gets easier, you know you just try to do the best you can and try to help the ones and we know we can't help them all. We can't save them all," said Dr. Golub. "You know, if people are observant and do something when they see there's a problem. If they suspect there's an issue, they need to report it."