One thousand five hundred kilometers couldn't stop Yao Shiyong from volunteering to take care of a horse part of a group of three that helped save a boy's life.
Yao left his home in southwest China's Guizhou Province to go to the equestrian club in Jinjiang City, southeastern Fujian Province, when he heard the news that three horses from the club mounted with instructors saved a 12-year-old boy from rising tide. Unfortunately, two of the horses died of a pulmonary infection in spite of their onwers' rescue efforts.
Yao Shiyong putting an IV bag for General. /Screenshot
As a volunteer, Yao helped contact and pick up professionals, buy medicines, give medical care and run the club. Yao knows about horses because he raised a horse in his childhood back in Guizhou.
"I felt uneasy when I knew two horses had died. I have a special feeling for horses, so I am happy to lend a helping hand. This doesn't conflict with my job," Yao explained, adding that he is just one among hundreds of thousands of volunteers. "It's nothing," he noted.
In July this year, the club's instructors were riding along the city's beach when they saw a boy in need. They rushed the horses fast into the sea and pulled the boy from the rising tides that almost submerged the horses.
Riding instructors are riding horses to the sea to save a drowning boy in Jinjiang City, east China's Fujian Province, July 2020. /Screenshot
After that, two of the horses had a persistent fever and cough. The China National Horse Industry Association contacted the club and it's professionals drafted a treatment and sent medicines for the horses. But all those efforts failed to keep the horses alive due to pulmonary infection.
The surviving horse, the General, from the life-saving effort in Jinjiang City, eastern Fujian Province, July 2020. /China Horse Industry Association
The only surviving horse, named General, is currently under medical treatment from a panel of professionals from the association. In its latest Weibo post, the association informed the public of the General's condition with photos, saying it is recovering well.
The boy's parents have also come to the club to express their gratitude to the instructors and horses. The parents wanted to compensate the club for the loss, which the club declined.
"We all leave hometowns for work and earn a meager income. I can't ask for compensation for this," said Cai Liangxing, one of the club instructors.
The title of "Brave Horse with Meritorious Exploits" is awarded to the three horses. The club received 50,000 yuan as condolence payment. /CNR
The local authorities awarded the title of "Brave Horse with Meritorious Exploits" to the two deceased and allocated 50,000 yuan (7,200 U.S. dollars) as condolence payment.
The stories about the deed of the three heroic horses and Yao have been in the trending list on Chinese social media. Netizens have been worried about the health condition of the horse and have also praised Yao.
"There is love in the human world. I wish the horse could understand," a netizen commented, hoping the animal can recover soon.
"The deceased horses are angels. I wish they could gallop freely in heaven," wrote someone on social media.
(The cover photo is the horses from the club via CNR.)