POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an ‘absolutely appalling’ attack on a beloved horse that subsequently died from his injuries.
It is thought the 10-year-old Welsh pony was struck over the head with a blunt instrument, possibly a crowbar, on the night of Friday into Saturday morning in Denstone.
The horse died on Monday, April 6, after deteriorating rapidly over the weekend and vets believe the horse suffered brain damage and was blinded in one eye as a result of the apparent attack.
Owner Sally Von Tienen, who has cared for the pony called Bobby for nine years along with her 16-year-old daughter Olivia at their farm in College Road, has been left devastated by the incident.
She told The Advertiser that whoever carried out the attack on the much loved horse must be ‘inhumane’.
She said: "He was such a lovely, sweet pony. He really trusted people and probably would have stood still as the attack was carried out. He would never hurt anyone. Whoever did this is a coward.
"It is just so sad. It has affected everyone quite profoundly including the people who came out from the police and the vet. I have kept horses all my life and I just couldn’t ever see something like this happening.
"These people must live beyond the normal boundaries to do something like this. Bobby didn’t have a bad bone in his body. He was such a sweet little pony."
Mrs Von Tienen, 54, also told The Advertiser that her other horses all did there best to try and help the wounded pony after the attack.
She said: "One of our mares stood over him after it happened to look after him. Some of the horses also licked his face to try and help. It was lovely."
Sgt Chris Hutton and Sgt Fiona Davis from Uttoxeter Police attended the farm and Sgt Hutton told The Advertiser it was a ‘horrific incident’.
He said: "The wound went in just over an inch and it does look like it could be something like the chisel end of a crowbar that has done it.
"In the opinion of the vet it was not natural causes or that the horse had hurt itself. It’s certainly suspicious.
"It is absolutely appalling. I can’t think of any reason why anyone would do that."
Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information should contact Sgt Fiona Davis at Uttoxeter Police on 0300 123 44 55 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.