COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — One of the oldest horses in the United States was just celebrated for overcoming a difficult past.
Faith is 44 years old, which is the equivalent to 154 in human years, and lives at The Lucky Horse Sanctuary in South Florida. The horse has overcome a past of abuse, abandonment and a cancer diagnosis. But, despite her age and ailing health, she received stem cell treatments and surgeries that miraculously worked.
She is now cancer free and "living her best life," according to a news release.
Faith provides therapy and companionship to the sanctuary's visitors who sometimes are people struggling with PTSD or addiction issues. She also helps children with developmental disorders.
The mission of the sanctuary is to provide trauma specific animal assisted mental health counseling services.
"A lot of our clients here have been hurt, victimized by people they trusted," explained Dr. Blair Barone, the sanctuary's founder, in a video.
To celebrate her, the pet retailer Chewy threw her and other horses at the sanctuary a holiday party.
It was filled with special cakes, treats and decorations. Faith was even dressed up in a blue outfit to match the holiday party theme.
All the attendees cheered and clapped when Faith arrived, and pictures from the party show the horse eating and enjoying her birthday cake.
"She is very old but she is very young in spirit, and I think the thing that keeps her that young is all of the people that she helps," said Colt Ray Crozer, a therapist at the sanctuary.
