A horse who was left for dead is now a prize-winning show pony, thanks to his new owner!

My Lovely Horse Rescue took to Facebook to explain that they were contacted in October 2022 when a horse named Woody was found "collapsed on the side of the road."

https://www.facebook.com/MyLovelyHorseRescue/posts/pfbid0MDDeCxx5hBCkNaBecPdvV2nDiHad3wkP6vEfhC7hSmwVx937mS7REjtRFovaf22Dl

They said, "The 'owners' took their tack and cart and ran away and left him there to die."

When rescuers arrived, they said, "It was an awful scene and heart breaking." Thankfully, they refused to give up on sweet Woody and nursed him back to health.

By December 2022, he was ready to be adopted, and that's where Orianna comes in. She met Woody, and it was "love at first sight."

Not only did Woody defeat the odds and find a new loving home, but he went on to compete in the Cork Summer Show - and won second place!

Photo: Pexels/Aliaksei Semirski

The Cork Summer Show was founded in 1806 and is organized by the Munster Agricultural Society.

According to Cork's 96FM, over 60,000 people attended the event this year!

Photo: Pexels/Aliaksei Semirski

My Love Horse Rescue said in the post, "This is why we work so hard to do what we do, we give them back the life they so deserve. A LIFE WORTH LIVING."

Orianna and Woody, also known as Fire Cracker, competed in the IN HAND RESCUE PONY class, a class specifically designed for ponies who have been adopted through a rescue center in Ireland. Orianna and Woody came in second place behind Misha and her rescue horse Ballybrown Bertie.