Third horse found mutilated in two weeks

Another horse has been found dead and mutilated this week, which is now the third horrific attack in under two weeks.

The 11.2hh Welsh/Arab pony, called Sammy, was found dead in his field near Whitstone, Devon on Saturday 14 January.

According to Horse and Hound, he was found dead and missing his right eye, left eyelid and his tongue and genitals had also been cut.

The dead horse was three years old and owner Tanya Ingram told the Horse and Hound that she had planned on breeding from him.

But a spokesman from the RSPCA told H&H: "No foul play is suspected and the injuries are thought to have been inflicted post mortem."

Devon and Cornwall Police also said that “this is not a crime” and that he died of “natural causes” — but the owners are unconvinced.

Ms Ingram thought otherwise, however, saying: “It does not look like natural causes to me, he was fit and well. And the cuts were so clean it doesn’t appear to have been animals. His penis was cut off. We’re just so shocked, it’s so distressing.”

She has 12 other horses on the site. Sammy was the only stallion, and none of the others were harmed.

Last week in neighbouring county Cornwall a two-year-old stallion called Erik was found mutilated near Truro and another stallion called Barney was also found slashed in Carmarthenshire. Dyfed Powys Police have closed the case, but Barney’s owners also remain convinced it was not a natural death due to the nature of the wounds.

Picture: Dbaron