INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. -- A bruised, starving horse was adopted Tuesday by a girl with a big heart.

The owners of Hilltop Farms in Brush Valley, Indiana County, have fostered a horse named Freckles for several months after rescuing it from a Somerset County farm where the horse's back legs had infected open sores.

Morgan Mack, 9, took one look at Freckles on Channel 4 Action News in August 2007 and knew she had to have her. A fourth-grader at United Elementary High School, Mack saved $200 to buy Freckles.

"Birthdays, holidays, and some people just gave me some money so they could see a horse in the pasture," said Mack.

Mack bought Freckles at the Second Chance Equine Association, where her $200 will be used to treat other injured horses.

"We have about 20 acres, so there's lots of ground for her to graze," said Beverly Mack, Morgan's mother.

Freckles recently had a foal, and the Macks are taking the baby, too. Morgan is still trying to pick out a name.

"It's losing its baby hair," Morgan Mack said. "I'm waiting to see what color she turns out to be and what her personality turns out to be."

"I think she's ready for responsibility," Beverly Mack said. "We'll get a shovel her size."