Prize-winning horse shot with an air rifle in Midlothian

Police are appealing for witnesses after a prize-winning horse was shot with an air rifle.

Sharif, a 22-year-old gelding owned by Linda Pantellerisco, was shot in the neck in a field near Musselburgh on Friday 18 July, sometime between 11am and midday.

Mrs Pantellerisco was called by a neighbour who noticed a lump on Sharif’s neck when she went down to the field.

When the vet was called it was found that it was a pellet from an air rifle that had been shot at close range.

It is thought that Sharif was shot between 11am and midday on Friday 18 July.

Linda’s husband John told H&H: “Sharif is such a passive horse and my wife is gutted. There are prizes all over the house that the pair of them have won. They’ve even been the East Scotland Show Champion.”

“The vet said that the pellet was only two inches away from his main arteries — if they had been any closer he would have bled to death.”

Sharif is currently being treated with antibiotics and is recovering well.

Police in Midlothian are appealing for information from anyone who was in the area at the time and noticed anyone carrying an air weapon, or acting suspiciously.

Anyone with any information should tel: 0131 3113131

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