Police are hunting an attacker who inflicted horrific 12-inch knife wounds on two young Nottinghamshire horses.
The owners of the two colts found them bleeding in a field near Forest Town, near Mansfield, on Monday morning.
They only survived after receiving emergency treatment from a vet and police promised to catch the attacker, calling the incident “shocking, cruel and horrific”.
Both horses, called Rio and Flash, are now recovering.
Flash’s owner Audra Hall told the Mansfield Chad whoever caused the wounds had taken advantage of the friendly nature of both horses so they could get close to them, then launch the attack.
Police say the attack took place sometime between 8pm on Sunday evening and the following morning at the field off Newlands Road.
Both horses were sedated after being treated and are recovering (Photo: Mansfield Chad)
Fellow horse owners said they were shocked at the cruelty of the attack. Although cases of neglect are common, deliberate assaults on horses are rare.
“It’s just beyond belief,” said Linda-Marie Hughes, founder of Moo Haven Horse Rescue, Sandiacre.
“I just can’t put it in to words – how would anybody want to do that to a living animal?
“Just because horses can’t speak doesn’t mean they don’t feel.”
A vet cleans one of the horse’s wounds
Insp Nick Butler of Notts Police said: “This is a shocking incident, not least for the horses and their owners. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could be this cruel.
“I’ve spoken with the owners and reassured them that we will do all we can to catch the people responsible and bring them to justice.
“It is crucial we find whoever was responsible for causing those injuries as soon as we possibly can. Somebody, somewhere will have heard something and I urge anyone with information about this incident to please call us with any information, no matter how insignificant it seems, as it may be the piece in the jigsaw we are missing.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 182 of 22 of August 2016 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
