Matty had several unknown medical conditions and his owners could not afford to do all the tests required to diagnose and treat him. Their vet, Matt Monahan from Gold Coast Equine, suggested that SAHA may be able to take him on and pay for his vet fees. Otherwise his owners had no option but to euthanise him. SAHA named him Matty after his vet. Matty was diagnosed with mild inflammatory airway disease. Luckily this was treated with medication and he made a full recovery. Unfortunately, after nerve blocks and X-rays, vets still couldn’t find the source of his mild lameness in his offside hind. A bone scan found that he was suffering from arthritis. He was treated with shock-wave therapy and supplements and has made a full recovery! In an incredible twist, a Gumtree advertisement was brought to our attention. In it, a young girl was searching for her first competition horse who she had sold and lost track of. She posted amazing photos of this much loved horse pleading with anyone who knew his whereabouts! The horse was Matty! I called her and she was in tears wanting to come see him and she has visited every week since, in the hope that his treatment would work and she could adopt him back to retire him on his old property with his old paddock mate! Today Matty went home! We are so happy that this beautiful horse went back to a young girl who adores him and he will live forever being loved and pampered – this is an amazing happy ending. A true black beauty story x