Horses are known for being some of the most majestic creatures on Earth. On top of that, they have incredible agility and speed, as they can run a maximum of 30 to 40 mph. In fact, some breeds are able to reach speeds of around 55 mph!

Sadly, in Romania, horses’ front feet are often chained to stop them from running. Not only is this incredibly uncomfortable, it also causes horses to do unnatural hopping motions just to get from one place to another.

In some parts of Romania, horses are still used for agriculture and transportation. In poor parts of the nation, horses are considered to be a cheaper alternative to motor vehicles. In these areas, horses live in very bad conditions in which they are given little food and forced to work long hours. When owners can’t afford to keep the horses anymore, they abandon them and simply let them go, putting them in a truly terrible position.

When a veterinarian from Four Paws named Ovidiu Rosu came upon a horse hopping around in a field, he knew right away that the animal needed his help. Though the horse had been able to escape from his owner, his feet were still tied up, and he could not keep up with his fellow horses.

When Ovidiu reached the horse, he gave him a sedative to relax him. Once the sedative kicked in, Ovidiu was able to check the horse, and he found that the chain had cut deep into its leg. Thankfully, the injury was not so bad that it would stop the horse from ever running again.

When the horse woke up, he realized that Ovidiu had helped him, and he thanked him in an adorable way. Check out the video below to see the heartwarming way the horse showed his gratitude to the vet!