The body of a one-eyed emaciated horse was tied to a telegraph pole to drag it off a vehicle before it was dumped in the road, the RSPCA believes.

The charity is appealing for information that might help trace the owner of the cob, who had been “severely neglected” before she was dumped near Battle in East Sussex.

“Several members of the public contacted the animal charity after spotting the grisly sight on a roadside on Chapel Hill Lane at Sedlescombe, near Battle, on the morning of Monday, January 27,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.

The mare was “in a very emaciated stale”, the charity said, with her right eye missing. A ratchet strap had been used to tie her body to a telegraph pole by the road.

“This poor horse was in a very bad condition and she had been severely neglected before being dumped at this location,” said RSPCA animal rescue officer Claire Thomas, who is investigating. “It appears she was tied to the telegraph pole so that the vehicle used to carry her could be driven off from the scene.

“We are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area on the morning of January 27 or the previous evening. It’s possible the body was there overnight, although we don’t think the equine was there that long as this is quite a busy lane used by commuters in the mornings and evenings and the body was very visible.”

The mare’s body, which was not microchipped, was found at the junction of Crazy Lane and Chapel Hill Lane. Ms Thomas said any dashcam or other footage covering the area may help the charity’s investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 1238018, quoting incident number 01435963.

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An equestrian centres in East Sussex with three arenas, lots of stables and an on-site house has come on the market. Would you be up for the challenge of running your own thriving show centre?

Golden Cross Equestrian Centre is being offered for sale following complete refurbishment. It’s nestled in Golden Cross is a small village in the Wealden district of East Sussex.

Having being acquired by the current owners in 2014, Golden Cross Equestrian Centre has been developed over the last four years and currently runs regular unaffiliated competitions, clinics and training shows. Additional income is generated from hiring out the facilities to pony and riding clubs as well as dog training groups.

If you want to check out some local competition, other equestrian centres in the area include: Polegate (7 miles), Meadows EC (6.5 miles) and Crockstead (6 miles). Petley Wood (17 miles) hosts regular BSJA competitions.

Cross-country courses are available at East Bysshe Showground (26 miles) and Comphurst Farm (9 miles). A bit further afield is Bonfleur XC course which is an hour drive north-east (34 miles).

Head out with the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunt is you like a blast out with the hounds, and if you fancy doing some showing, sign up to BSPS Area 14.

On the market for £1.3m, Golden Cross could be the mixture of business and pleasure you’ve been searching for. Churchill Country and Equestrian are offering this one.

Shall we take a look around?

Golden Cross Equestrian Centre is one of the busiest and most successful competition centres in the South of England, for good reason…

The superb facilities include this 30x60m indoor arena…

… as well as two outdoors — a brand-new 50x80m all-weather sandschool and a a further 25x55m outdoor school.

In total there are 20 stables, some outdoor and some indoor.

Hosting shows in the summer sun won’t be an issue as there is an outdoor jumping arena. In all, the land extends to nine acres and includes paddocks which have been newly fenced with post and rail.

Other facilities include an on-site café which overlooks the indoor arena. It has a fully fitted kitchen and seating room. Outside there is another café in a self-contained unit.

There are other handy rooms including a show office, first aid room and a numbers room as well as a further bar area for special events and private functions.

There is also ample parking space for all your competitors.

In addition to the show centre there is a two bedroom ‘Superior Lodge’ which features an open plan kitchen/dining area.

Could Golden Cross be your next business venture?

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

1. Kitchenour, East Sussex

For you: a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse with five bedrooms, a galleried landing, formal gardens and an outdoor pool with a pool house.

For the horses: an American barn with four loose boxes, a feed bay,

a wash-down area, a separate tack room and a large garage for a horsebox. The land extends to around 7.5 acres.

What’s the damage? £1.25m

Agent: Phillips & Stubbs

Telephone number: 01797 227338

Visit: www.phillipsandstubbs.co.uk

2. Sparr Farm, West Sussex

For you: a seven- to eight-bedroom Grade II-listed house with its own airstrip, aircraft hanger, swimming pool, tennis court and delightful views.

For the horses: three stables, a hay barn and further outbuildings, set in 80 acres.

What’s the damage? In excess of £3.8m

Agent: Batcheller Monkhouse

Telephone number: 01798 872081

Visit: www.batchellermonkhouse.com

3. Landfall House, West Sussex

For you: a six-bedroom Edwardian country house in an elevated position at the end of a private lane. The property is surrounded by formal gardens with a stone terrace and a former croquet lawn.

For the horses: an American barn with six stables, further timber stabling available by separate negotiation, potential for grooms’ accommodation, a horse walker, 25x80m polo arena and further outbuildings. Set in 7.8 acres.

What’s the damage? £1.7m

Agent: Churchill Country & Equestrian

Telephone number: 01403 700222

Visit: www.churchillcountry.com

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4. Redens, West Sussex

For you: a seven-bedroom house with a cellar, indoor swimming pool, gym area, landscaped gardens and ponds.

For the horses: there are eight stables, plus a tack room, rug room, wash room/solarium, staff flat, feed store, 20x50m arena and lungeing room in addition to a large barn complex with further stabling.

What’s the damage? £5m

Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff

Telephone number: 01730 812357

Visit: www.jackson-stops.co.uk

Next week: Equestrian properties near Gatcombe Horse Trials

Ref: Horse & Hound; 28 July 2016

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Three horses have died in a stable fire in East Sussex.

The fire broke out in a barn in Robin Post Lane, Hailsham, just before 2am on Tuesday (1 December).

Tack worth around £45,000 and a number of sentimental items were also destroyed.

“The owners of the property were awoken by a young man who knocked on their front door and stated that the stable block was on fire,” said a Sussex Police spokesman.

“But unfortunately, by the time firefighters arrived, the building was alight and the three horses were unable to be saved.”

Two fire crews used foam to put out the flames and returned later that day for reinspection.

An electricity company also attended and the scene was made safe in the early hours of the morning.

Police were investigating the cause, but have today (Wednesday, 2 December) said that it is not being treated as suspicious.

“Fire investigators are satisfied that the cause of a barn fire which killed three horses was accidental,” the police spokesman added.

Detective Inspector Neil Ralph said: “I’d like to reassure members of the public that this is a one-off, isolated incident, and there has been nothing similar over the past few weeks.”

Members of the public have taken to social media to offer their condolences to the owners of the property and horses.

H&H will post updates when they are available.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now