14 DAY TRIAL // When it was just eight months old and living together with its mother in quite appalling conditions (both were undernourished and lacked proper care), young horse Bertie had what will probably be the most traumatic experience of its life, as a bull terrier decided to attack it and left it half dead.
Still, the veterinarian called at the site to have a look at Bertie and its mother decided to not put the foal to sleep, even if his years of experience told him that the young horse had little – if any – chances at making a recovery.
However, Bertie not only got back on its feet, but it also learned to make use of them with such precision that it recently won the fourth place at a riding competition for rescued horses in Peterborough.
Rider Daisy Shufflebottom explains how, “Bertie and I bonded straight away - he’s got a great temperament to work with. 'He can be quite cheeky occasionally but he’s great. I never expected to do as well as we did. It was a very big step for him.”
Just for the record, Bertie reminds us a bit of Seabiscuit, if you happen to be familiar with this racing legend.