Neglected Pony’s Hooves Are So Long And Curled She Can Barely Walk Straight

A pony in Canada was able to make an incredible transformation after suffering with overgrown hooves.

According to The Dodo, Stella the pony was living completely neglected in a muddy pen with two other horses.

Julia Cesario was informed by a friend that Stella’s elderly owners were struggling to care for her, so she went to the property to investigate and it’s a good thing she did!

Stella’s condition broke Julia’s heart and she knew she couldn’t leave the pony there to suffer. Her hooves were so overgrown and curled that the poor thing couldn’t walk properly.

Domestic horses, who do not roam in the wild and spend most of their time in stalls or pastures, do not naturally wear down their hooves as they would in the wild.

According to The Alberta SPCA, if a horse’s hooves become too long, it can lead to a range of problems such as discomfort, lameness, and even injury. Overgrown hooves can also alter a horse’s gait, causing an uneven distribution of weight on their legs and leading to more severe issues like joint problems and arthritis.

Stella was faced with gait issues, and likely pain. Thankfully, Julia was there to help. Once back on her farm, Julia was able to begin work on Stella’s hooves. The first trimming session took two hours!

Eventually, her hooves were trimmed to a healthy size and Stella was able to walk normally for the first time in a long time.

“She was a totally new horse,” Julia told The Dodo.

Check out the video below:

You can keep up with Stella and her family on TikTok, @julia_cesario.