Scots horse owners have been warned to be on their guard after sickening attacks on two animals south of the border.
In the space of just a few days, attacks took place in Cornwall and Wales involving horrific mutilation of two horses. The latest incident took place last weekend in an incident now under investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police and the RSPCA.
A stallion had its eye cut out and teeth removed, with the attackers also cutting off its genitalia.
In the earlier Carmarthenshire attack, an owner discovered her seven-year-old Welsh pony had also had his eyes removed, mouth and ear slit as well as being slashed along the body, exposing the animal’s organs.
News of the attacks has spread quickly through the equestrian community and one Angus resident’s plea that the message should go out to horse and pony owners to be alert despite the incidents happening many miles away has been taken up by national group Horsewatch Scotland.
Horsewatch coordinator Fiona Stuart said the attacks had sent shockwaves through the membership north of the border.
She said: ”It’s devastating to read such stories all of our members are shocked and horrified.”
Horsewatch was launched to help the police fight equine-related crime. It offers advice on safety and security and also helps to circulate crime alerts to make horse owners aware of what is happening in their area.
Fiona added: ”Scotland has a huge equestrian community so the more members we have the further our news can travel, especially in cases like this. The more attention this receives the stronger the chance of the perpetrators being found.”
Over recent years there have been incidents in Scotland in which horses have had their tails cut off, with suggestions that they are linked to the occult.
One Angus owner said: ”I know that sort of thing has happened in the past and there have been concerns that highlighting it might lead to copycat offences against other animals.
”But when I read about these incidents I was just appalled that someone could do something so horrific.”
They added: ”It’s important that horse owners are aware that this has happened, even though it may seem far away, and the wider the warning goes out the better.”Find out more at www.horsewatchscotland.info