Rescue Defies Calls to Slaughter Old and Overworked Horse: ‘Look at Me Now’

The heartbreaking story of a malnourished horse, who didn’t even have the strength to stand up, has left many people in tears. Despite calls to have him slaughtered, he has made an incredible recovery that very few expected.

It’s thought that Chester spent many years as a plow horse, being overworked and underfed, making it impossible for him to lift even his own body weight. As he lay struggling on the ground, Chester’s poor condition was made even more stark by the deep wounds under his belly. It left many people saying that he should be put out of his misery and slaughtered.

Thankfully, Lorin Grey and the team at Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in Maryland refused to give up on this loving horse. Grey told Newsweek that Chester was “several hundred pounds underweight,” but having him euthanized wasn’t an option, and all he needed was time and care.

“As we assessed Chester’s situation, he truly just couldn’t get his body up,” Grey said. “There was no other medical reason present that would have stopped us from trying. He just couldn’t get his hind legs under him and, when he tried, his muscles were too weak.”

The team banded together to use a large mechanical sling to lift Chester off the floor, and get him back onto his feet again. It certainly wasn’t easy and required plenty of physical strength, but Grey said that “Chester was well worth the effort.” He is now regularly eating grain and hay to build up his strength, and at the age of 26, he’s just at the beginning of his new journey.

Chester has proven many of his doubters wrong, but sadly not all horses get that second chance. The Humane Society of the United States says that 92 percent of horses sent to slaughter are healthy animals who could live full lives. Many of the slaughters are carried out for human consumption, as it is thought that 2021 alone saw over 23,000 horses killed.

Following months of steady recovery, Chester is now available for adoption, along with many other horses at Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue. Very few people may have expected him to pull through, but he’s now ready to find his forever home, as long as there is plenty of hay.

Grey said: “Chester’s recovery was actually quite simple, which makes his poor condition even more heartbreaking. All Chester needed was grain and hay. He’s doing incredibly well now as he’s strong and healthy, and he lives with his girlfriend, Lynda, another horse who arrived starved and is now thriving.

“Typically, horses can live to about 30 years old, and even older with great care. We hope Chester reaches this milestone, but we’re happy for every day he gets to enjoy his second chance at life.”

On November 9, a video highlighting Chester’s recovery journey was shared on TikTok (@gentlegiantsdraftrescue), showing the importance of remaining hopeful and taking a chance on an animal in need. The video, exclaiming “look at me now,” has gone viral with almost 700,000 views and over 85,000 likes on TikTok.

“We love sharing these stories and bringing people into the world of animal rescue. It isn’t always easy, and we’ve had our fair share of heartbreaks, which makes Chester’s comeback so much more inspiring and rewarding,” Grey told Newsweek.

“Chester’s story has touched so many, and we’re overjoyed to see so many people rally behind this old plow horse who may have otherwise been looked over,” Grey said. “There are many more like Chester here at Gentle Giants who arrived broken and in need of someone to give them a chance, and that’s why we’ve created the Chester’s Champions program.”

The viral video has amassed more than 3,600 comments on TikTok already, as many people praised the rescue center for not giving up on Chester.

One comment reads: “It would have been different if he had given up mentally, but he was still wanting to fight and live. He just needed help.”

Another person responded: “Unrecognizable! He deserved a chance.”

“You gave him a fighting chance when others didn’t and they didn’t see he wanted to live,” wrote one TikTok user.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.