A horrifying discovery at a construction site in England prompted volunteers to embark on an animal rescue mission they weren’t sure would succeed.

A public plea prompted volunteers from the British Horse Society to make a tragic discovery.

The building site in East Durham appeared to be abandoned, with waste and rubble everywhere, and they discovered what they initially assumed was a de:ad horse laying in the mud.

She was filthy and emaciated, but upon closer inspection, they discovered the horse, Heidi, was still living.

It was one of the most terrible cases of neglect they’d ever seen, and they acted without hesitation.

“It took five people to lift her to her feet,” stated a representative from Here 4 Horses Equine Charity.

It turned out that the site’s owner had summoned someone in to remove the body of the horse, which he assumed was de:ad.

“Whether he thought she was already de:ad is irrelevant—she had been subject to the most awful suffering, ” Wendy Suddes from the nonprofit Here4Horses told Bored Panda.The foundation did everything they could to save this sweet horse’s life, but it was a close call because she couldn’t even stand up when she was rescued.

“The early days were touch and go, as we dealt with her serious weakness and such a low blood protein level that a plasma transfusion was required,” Wendy told me.

“Too many sores, worms, parasites, and infections had been given time to take hold and it took months and months to get Heidi well enough to run free in our pastures,” Wendy added.

But because to her tenacity and resolve to survive, she made it through.

Heidi had experienced the type of brutality and neglect that the nonprofit only sees once or twice a year, but she can now put that behind her and live an award-winning life as the beautiful and lively pony she was destined to be.

Heidi is now “high on life,” her lovely mane has grown back, and she is living her best life by earning rosettes, thanks to Wendy and her crew.