'Devastated' girl appeals for help after three ponies stolen from her grandma's Kent farm

A 12-year-old girl has been left heartbroken after three of her ponies were stolen from her Grandma’s farm in Kent. Grandmother Wendy McLaughlin made the ‘devastating’ discovery on Friday (November 22) as she went to tend to the animals and found the stables behind her home in Hartley empty.

The 68-year-old reported it to the police but she said the incident has been devastating for her granddaughter. In an emotional video, Kyra, 12, appealed to the public for help.

She said: “There’s one horse that is the same age as me and has been around since I was very young. There is a mother and a daughter. A man and a woman have cut through Nana’s fencing to take them from inside their own stables.

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“The mother and daughter have never been separated and would be very upset if they were ever separated. I miss them very much.”

'We are all devastated'

Wendy is offering a reward for the safe return of her beloved horses or for information leading to their safe recovery. She said: “They were taken through Northfield Country Park then onto Ash Road and loaded into a horsebox parked in Royal Oak Pub.”

Kyra’s mum Heather Gyenge said her daughter has grown up with one of the ponies, Bess. She added: “Kyra has SEN - she shows autistic traits but has not yet been diagnosed as girls mask it. She finds it easier to relate to animals than she does to people.

“We live in Hereford, and every school holiday she goes to visit her Nanna to spend time with the horses. We are all devastated.”

Wendy lives on her own, and the horses are kept in her stables a bit further up the road from her house. Heather said: “They are all she has. Her reason to get out of bed is to look after them.

“When I heard the news I was shocked and immediately extremely anxious as to how Kyra would react. She has an EHCP (Education, health, care plan) and struggles to manage her emotions. We are keeping a very close eye on her.”

“I myself am a mobile animal therapist and I know first hand how important animals are for mental health. The ponies are very much part of the family and so important in her life (Kyra).”

Members of the public have provided ring doorbell footage of the suspects, Heather said. Kent Police are currently investigating the theft.

The theft is reported to have happened overnight, between 5.30pm on Thursday, November 21 and 7am on Friday, November 22, 2024. The horses were stolen from a location near Church Road, after fencing was damaged to gain entry.

A police spokesperson said: “It is believed they were then led through fields onto Ash Road and loaded into a horsebox parked next to the nearby Royal Oak pub. Two of the horses are white and one has a very long mane. The third is a brown coloured foal, with a white stripe on her face.

“Officers are continuing to engage with the victim and enquiries have also led to the identification of important CCTV footage from separate locations, which is in the process of being recovered and analysed. Residents in surrounding areas are urged to check doorbell cameras and CCTV for any other images which may assist the investigation.”

Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/198687/24. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.