A Shetland pony was left with hooves so long it could barely walk after a decade of neglect.

The poor pony had hooves so long that they had curved at 540 degrees, something Animaux en Péril (the rescue center that took him in) had never seen before.

He weighed only 70 pounds, a terribly low weight for this type of pony and about the same as a large dog.

The pony was discovered in a makeshift ox shelter and is believed to have remained trapped there, on a two-foot pile of dung, for at least three months.

Hooves are supposed to be trimmed every few weeks, but rescuers believe this pony had not had the trim in more than 10 years, resulting in its strikingly deformed appearance.

Sanctuary staff in Belgium learned of the horrific case when the owner decided to hand over the abandoned animal, along with another malnourished horse, to an animal welfare unit in Wallonia, Belgium.

Animaux’s caretakers in Péril went on to care for the couple, now named Poly and Eʋerest.

In addition to crooked hooves, the Poly was found to have lice-covered fur, deformed joints, and a body index of one in fiʋe, the last stage before death from malnutrition.

The staff immediately trimmed and repaired Poly’s hooves and shampooed and clipped them to remove the lice.

They are now recovering well and enjoying daily walks.

Marie-Laurence Hamaide, vice-president of Animaux en Péril, said: ‘We can tell you that you are doing well at the moment.

‘They eat well and go out for walks every day, they had been locked up for three months before we took them in.