Brutal! Doctors reveal torturous ordeal of rescued Victoria horse

The malnourished horse's ribs can be seen

The next time you sit on a Victoria, pay heed to the animal that's taking you on that joy ride. Three days after a severely bruised horse was rescued from Gateway of India, doctors at the veterinary hospital in Parel, where it is being treated, have revealed details of the animal's brutal torture.

A veterinary report filed at the Colaba police station by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India, the Animal Rahat and People for Animals, said that the animal was in great pain when it was brought to the hospital on November 20. The police have filed a non-cognisable (NC) complaint against the horse's owners Mahendra Jaiswla and Ashok Gowda.

The horse's cracked hooves and bleeding joints were covered with limestone powder.

According to the report, the horse was "severely malnourished, lame, and dehydrated and had protruding rib, back and pelvic bones". The animal also suffered from advanced arthritis and swollen joints, overgrown and cracked hooves and multiple chronic wounds that were deliberately hidden with limestone powder, when it was being used for carriage rides at Gateway of India.

"All wounds on the body were covered with limestone powder. People normally identify wounds from the flesh and from a distance the white powder only looks like patches on the body," said Nirali Kodaria, an animal right activist working with People for Animals. "It [the horse] must have had very painful rides," she added.

"An NC has been registered against Jaiswla and Gowda under Sections 11 (a) (b) (D) and 3 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," said Vijay Dhopavkar, senior inspector of Colaba police station.