Pony believed to have been set on fire taken in by local residents
The RSPCA is investigating after a pony is believed to have been set on fire in West Yorkshire.
The pony was found on Tuesday (14 April) by a member of the public in Kirkthorpe.
An alarmed reader contacted H&H. “The pony was found in a state — tied up in agony, all alone and scared out of her wits,” said the reader. “She was covered in engine oil and we believe she might have been set on fire.
“Luckily she’s alive, but we are determined to catch the people who did this. How anyone can do this to a defenceless animal is beyond comprehension.”
The pony has been named Hope and taken in by local horse owner Steph Broadhead.
“She was all tangled up in brambles,” Steph told H&H. “We clipped her and she has scorch marks all over her. It’s horrendous.
“The RSPCA told us there was nothing they could do, so we’ve taken her in. She’s very, very sore. I’ve never seen anything like this. “She’ll have a home now with us and will be spoilt rotten.”
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The RSPCA attended but told H&H it was “not definite” that the pony had been set on fire.
“The RSPCA has visited a pony in Kirkthorpe after receiving concerns for its welfare,” a spokesman told H&H.
“The pony had a small amount of fur loss and had been entangled in brambles. It has been freed from the brambles and the RSPCA has left an advice notice for the pony’s owner to contact us.
“The pony isn’t in ideal condition, but is not suffering so we are unable to obtain veterinary support to allow us to remove the pony.
“There were reports that the pony had oil in its coat and we think this may have been applied to try to treat a mite infestation.
“We will be making a further visit, but in the meantime if anyone knows who the pony belongs to they can contact us in confidence on 0300 123 8018.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.