A horse has been seriously injured in a horrific attack in his field, two weeks after his owners’ dogs were targeted in a similar incident.
Anji Sanderson arrived at her rented stables in Hambleton, Lancashire, on Saturday (26 September) morning to find her daughter Caitlin’s 13.2hh pony Solis injured.
“Solis’ leg was black with blood and he had a wound at his stifle so deep you could put your hand in it,” Anji told H&H.
“The vet came straight out and said he thought the wound was a few hours old. He couldn’t stitch it because it was so wide. Solis is now on box rest with painkillers and antibiotics.”
Anji reported the incident to the police and believes it was linked to an attack on two of her rescue dogs, Tia and Rocky, at the yard on 17 September. Rocky needed emergency surgery on multiple stab wounds including a seven-inch wound to his body and a four-inch cut to his throat, he also suffered a broken jaw. Tia was badly beaten and needed painkillers for an injured leg.
“Nothing was ever taken so it wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. Somebody somewhere must know something. This is such a rural place you almost wouldn’t know the stables were here,” said Anji. “We’ve never needed CCTV before and the animals have lived here happily for two years. I just feel terrified and my daughter has been inconsolable.
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“I hope the police can catch whoever did this – these people need locking up. It’s horrific someone could do this to innocent animals, there need to be harsher sentences for people who do something like this.”
Lancashire Police is investigating both incidents.
“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing,” said a spokesman for the force.
Anyone with information should contact 101, quoting log 0602 of September 26.
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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.
