Exhausted horse dies after climbing from canal *warning: upsetting images*

A horse has died after climbing exhausted from a canal.

The bay mare was spotted by a passer-by at Gingley Lock, near the small village of Gingley-on-the-Hill, Nottinghamshire on Sunday (October 9).

Although the horse, who was thought to only be around four years old, managed to extract herself from the canal, she later collapsed with exhaustion and had to be put down by a vet.

“We received a call about a horse who had been spotted in the canal. The caller then reported to us that the horse had managed to get herself out of the canal and subsequently followed the lady back to the village, where she was secured on a farm,” said RSPCA inspector Becky Harper.

“I was a fair distance away and the caller was updating me that the poor horse had collapsed and was clearly suffering with exhaustion, so I arranged for a vet to attend as soon as possible and examine the horse. However, a local horse owner had kindly already called their own vet out which was very lovely of them.

“The vet sadly found the mare to be in the late stages of severe shock and decided the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep to end her suffering.”

The horse, whose main identifying marking was a white star on her head, was not recognised by any one from the small village and the charity believe it is possible she may have swum some distance to find a point where she could escape the water.

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“She was not microchipped so I am keen to hear from anybody who has any information about this horse, who owns her and how she came to be alone in the canal,” added inspector Harper.

Call 0300 123 8018 with information.

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