A stallion left tied to a gate with string, severely injured and unable to bear weight on one leg, had to be put down to end his suffering.
The RSPCA is appealing for information on the piebald, who was found by a member of the public in Rod Lane, Ilford, Somerset, on Sunday (28 July).
A spokesman for the RSPCA said the stallion, thought to be nine to 11 years old, was tightly tethered to the gate with baler twine. His right foreleg had an infected tendon sheath and he was unable to bear weight on it.
“He had also been left without water and without shelter from the blazing sun,” he said.
“Sadly his injuries were so severe that he was put to sleep on independent veterinary advice to stop him suffering further.”
The spokesman said it is not known how long the stallion had been there and that he was not microchipped, so it has not been possible to trace an owner.
Investigating RSPCA inspector Marie Griffiths said: “It is a horrendously cruel thing to do to abandon an injured horse. I would really like to hear if anyone knows who left him there, severely injured and without water or shelter.”
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The spokesman said the charity is currently caring for more than 900 horses and ponies and receiving up to 45 calls a day about neglected, abandoned and suffering horses.
“Last year the charity took in 848 horses across England and Wales, and offered advice and support to many more owners. The RSPCA is increasingly seeing more situations involving multiple neglected and suffering horses, sometimes more than 100 at the same site, which puts an enormous strain on its resources,” he said.
Anyone with information on the stallion can contact the charity’s appeal line on 0300 1238018.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 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
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
