An abandoned horse is recovering from malnutrition and painful wounds after being found in a canal in Socorro a week ago.

Rosie, a 23-year-old Bay mare, now has a foster home; before, people could only guess where she lived.

"I've never seen one quite this bad," said Animal Cruelty Heartline founder Jesse Miller.

Rosie is exposing a bone on one of her withers. She also has several open wounds around her body.

Miller said those wounds say a lot about how Rosie's previous owners treated her. The wounds haven't improved much since a passerby found her a week ago.

Animal control responded to a call about a horse inside a canal. When they arrived they said the water was very high and Rosie was in distress.

"They had a very hard time loading her up into the trailer. She didn't want to get on. And understandably she has a wound on her hind leg; that's very painful," said Miller.

Miller and other volunteers find it strange that they found Rosie wearing her saddle and shoes. Jesse said no one should be riding a horse in Rosie's condition.

How did Rosie end up in the canal? Where she came from and who allowed her to get in this condition are questions for which Miller has no answers. Now, all Jesse cares about is rehabilitating Rosie.

"Our mission is to give them a different life, and whether she has one year left or five, we're going give her a great home," said Miller

Rosie is the 10th horse the Animal Cruelty Heartline has rescued. And it does it all with only donations. If you'd like to help, you can ACHE at 833-1737.