A rare horse severely injured in an horrific accident is recovering slowly but steadily, thanks to the determination of his owner and public generosity.

Maverick, a young Clydesdale heavy horse, is at a critical stage in his fight back to health after being chased by a stray dog and becoming entangled in live electric fencing last summer.

The accident ripped through the back tendon in his left hind leg and came within millimetres of severing the front, which would have led to him being put down.

His owner, Helen Chester, launched an appeal earlier this year, publicised in the EDP, to help pay for his £250-per-visit vet's bill.

She and her partner David Carpenter had already ploughed their £10,000 savings into his care.

'To date I have managed to raise £3,350 in donations which is quite overwhelming and I want to pass on my deepest thanks to everyone for their support,' said Miss Chester, 40, of Wiveton, near Blakeney.

She has planned a number of fund-raising events, beginning this weekend, and will launch a charity called Maverick's Legacy so that any cash left after his treatment will go to help horse owners facing the similar nightmare of footing hefty vet's bills - or seeing their healthy animal put to sleep.

Maverick, who will be two next month, had made 'amazing progress,' she added.

But each week the vet had to remove some tissue to allow the skin to grow and slide over the wound, a painstaking process which would take weeks.

'The prognosis is still good and there is a 98pc chance that Maverick will make a full recovery and go on to have a normal, happy, working life,' said Miss Chester, who runs a carriage driving business.

She said Maverick was the only pure-bred Clydesdale registered with The Clydesdale Horse Society, in Norfolk. The breed is on the Rare Breeds Society's 'Vulnerable' list.

Maverick had to be confined to his stable but was coping well.

If all went smoothly, she hoped his rehabilitation would begin in early summer and that by next spring he would be fully recovered.

Miss Chester added: 'There has been an incredible amount of support out there. People have been thanking me for keeping him alive and urging me to keep going - it's really, really helped me.'

? To support Maverick visit www.gofundme.com/maverickslegacy or the Maverick's Legacy Facebook page, or ring 0783 4971 612.