It’s a common but unfortunate practice in Romania for horse owners to bind either their horse’s front or back legs together to prevent them from running away.
Fortunately, organizations like Four Paws International exist to try to foster a more humane relationship between humans and animals through both education and direct action. One of the latter came in early 2016, when Ovidiu Rosu, a veterinarian with Four Paws, witnessed the scene below in a field near the Danube delta in southeastern Romania.
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Apparently, the horse had escaped from his owners but wasn’t able to keep up with the rest of his adopted herd because of the chains that bound his front feet together.
Ovidiu managed to get the poor horse on the ground and went straight to work to set him horse free.
On closer inspection, though, the vet realized the chains had become so tight that they’d cut a gash into the sweet equine’s hoof.
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This horse already had a friend, and as Ovidiu carefully worked to loosen the chains and set him free, the friend silently stood nearby, sensing this kind human was only there to help.
As the sedatives began to wear off, the horse started to come to and was doubtlessly groggy. But not too groggy to realize he was free at last, and that the man standing before him was responsible. So, he approached him and thanked him in the cutest way possible!
Boop!
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It’s important to recognize that different countries have different customs, but we applaud Four Paws and all the other organizations around the world who act and speak out on behalf of animals who are so often at the mercy of humans.
Watch this sweet horse get his first taste of freedom in who knows how long, and share to spread thanks that he’s finally able to run wild!
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