"Pure evil": Shetland Pony found mutilated and killed after brutal attack in field

A Shetland Pony has been mutilated and killed in a sickening attack.

Bobby, a 12-year-old rescue pony, was found on Thursday evening with his stomach slashed and his bottom lip, ear and genitals cut off. His mane had also been cut off.

It is thought his attackers may have targeted him because twisted feet and breathing problems meant he couldn’t run fast.

Owner Wendy Redpath, who has had Bobby for four years after finding him on a specialist re-homing site, branded whoever carried out the attack as “pure evil”.

She said: “Whoever has done this needs to be taken off the streets. If they can do this to a defenceless horse, what could they do to a child? It doesn’t bear thinking about – it’s pure evil.

“I just can’t understand why anyone would do something like this. It’s barbaric.”

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Mrs Redpath said the incident had left her fearful for her other horses’ safety.

She said: “I’d hate to think he was enticed with something, as he was such a placid horse and trusted everyone. Because of his feet he wouldn’t have been able to run as fast as the others.

“He had breathing problems, I just hope he suffered a heart attack and died before they done this to him. He would have been in so much pain, it’s just heartbreaking.

“What has happened has really affected the other horses as they would have seen it all. You can see it in their eyes and the way they are now behaving. I just can’t understand how anyone could be so cruel. What would posses someone to do this?”

Police and the RSPCA have been contacted and are appealing to anyone who has information to contact them.

RSPCA inspector Heidi Cleaver said: “The injuries are almost too horrific to mention. Bobby has been slashed, had an ear and his bottom lip cut off and his genitals severed. His mane has also been hacked off and left strewn all over the field.

She added: “His owner describes him as a happy little pony with a cheeky character.

“It’s inconceivable that someone would want to deliberately hurt him in this way. This was a truly horrific incident.”