A horse abandoned and left to die on the side of the road has not only made a spectacular recovery but also experienced success after making his debut at a major horse show.
Just months after being cruelly abandoned on the side of the road following a collapse in Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland, a horse called Woody made his new owner very proud at the Cork Summer Show.
After being discovered in a “heartbreaking” condition, Woody was looked after by the animal charity My Lovely Horse Rescue. After months of being provided with quality nursing care, Woody was healthy enough to be adopted.
The Cork Summer Show – Cork’s oldest agricultural, food, and community event

The Cork Summer Show is Cork’s oldest agricultural, food, and community event.
Organised by the Munster Agricultural Society, the Cork Summer Show is a great family day out with live entertainment, music, farm animals and dogs, artisan businesses, and delicious food.
The Cork Summer Show occurs in Curraheen Village, Bishopstown, County Cork, and took place on 17 and 18 of June this year. Amazingly, it has been running for the last two centuries since 1806, and plans are already in place for 2024’s show!
Woody – an excellent and resilient horse

After being contacted by gardaí (Ireland’s police force), Cork charity My Lovely Horse Rescue took Woody in, and after providing him with months of love and care, he was able to be adopted.
Orianna became his owner after spotting him for the first time, in a moment she described as “love at first sight”.
After a few months with Orianna as his owner, Woody thrived even more, and when he made his debut at the Cork Summer Show, he proved how great a horse he could be as he earned a second-place prize.
My Lovely Horse Rescue – an important charity

The charity team who rescued Woody explained how they “are so proud” of Woody’s miraculous recovery.
Sharing pictures which show how far Woody has come, the My Lovely Horse charity said that Woody’s original owners “took their tack and cart and ran away and left him there to die. It was an awful scene and heartbreaking.
“Thankfully, through the My Lovely Horse Rescue Cork team’s dedication and vet care, we nursed him back to health. He was adopted by Orianna in December 2022; it was love at first sight… at the Cork Summer Show, he got second place on his first day out.
“We are so proud. 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”.