A shocking discovery at a building site in England led volunteers on an animal rescue they weren’t sure would be a success.

A call from a member of the public led volunteers from the British Horse Society to a grim discovery.

The building site in East Durham, looked like it had been abandoned with rubbish and debris everywhere and there lying in the mud they found what they first thought was a dead horse.

She was filthy and emaciated but on a closer inspection they found the horse, which they named Heidi, still breathing.

It was one of the most severe cases of neglect they had ever seen and without hesitation they stepped into action.

“It took five people to lift her to her feet,” said the spokesperson of Here 4 Horses Equine Charity.

It turns out the owner of the site had called someone in to remove the body of the horse, he believed was dead.

“Whether he thought she was already dead is irrelevant—she had been subject to the most awful suffering, ” Wendy Suddes from the nonprofit Here4Horses told Bored Panda.

The nonprofit did all they could to ensure this sweet horse survived but it was touch and go as she couldn’t even stand up when she was first rescued.

“The early days were touch and go, as we dealt with her serious weakness and such a low blood protein level that a plasma transfusion was required,” Wendy said.

It actually took more than 5 weeks for the emaciated pony to be able to stand by herself.

Blood was donated by healthy horses, and padded dressings were placed on Heidi to help her pressure sores from further damage.

“Too many sores, worms, parasites, and infections had been given time to take hold and it took months and months to get Heidi well enough to run free in our pastures,” Wendy added.

But thanks to her feisty character and determination to survive she pulled through.

Heidi had suffered the level of cruelty and neglect the nonprofit sees once or twice a year but she can put all that behind her now and enjoy an award-winning life as the beautiful and vibrant pony she was meant to be.

Thanks to Wendy and her team Heidi is now “high on life,” her beautiful mane has grown back and she is living her best life winning rosettes.

I really wish whoever was responsible for such cruelty was brought to justice and banned from ever keeping an animal again.

Heidi may have been crushed in body but never in spirit.

Please share to pay tribute to all the animal heroes who saved her life and gave her the loving environment she deserves.