A HORSE owner is warning others to be vigilant after her beloved welsh pony was attacked and left with life-threatening injuries.

Joyce Bell says she was horrified to find her 20-year-old rescue horse, Sammy, laid in a ditch on Saturday morning.

The horse had suffered a broken jaw, cuts across his mouth and next to his heart, and cuts and skin tears on all four legs.

Mrs Bell keeps three horses in the field at the bottom of Gordon Terrace in Ferryhill, County Durham.

The field is next to her home and she has never experienced any problems before.

“When I went down to see them on Saturday morning I could only see two of them and I wondered where Sammy was and why he wasn’t with the others," she said.

“I found him laid in a ditch and when I got him up I saw he was cut all over his body and his mouth was all bloody, it was just total carnage.

“My husband heard me scream from the house 100 yards away.”

Mrs Bell, who has rescued more than 40 horses in her lifetime, immediately called the police and the RSPCA who said Sammy’s injuries were consistent with a dog attack.

A dead fox was also left nearby and chains securing Mrs Joyce’s gate had been cut to allow access into the field.

She added: “Sammy’s jaw is so swollen that he is unable to eat or drink without help.

“I’ve been syringing water into his mouth and feeding him by hand, we need to see how the next few days go now, there is a chance he will have to be put down.

“It was a vicious and senseless attack on an innocent pony and I just don’t understand what they would do it for.

“Sammy is such a trusting horse, he even went to the vet still after everything he has been through.”

The white pony, who has been cared for by Mrs Bell for 18 years, is still under sedation and under constant care.

All three horses have since been moved to stables and Mrs Joyce is warning others to keep an eye on their horses.

“I am asking anybody who has horses to please be vigilant and so careful. I don’t want this to happen to anybody else.

“It’s just awful to think how terrified he must have been just stood there. I suffer with bad nerves as it is and I haven’t slept for two days because I keep thinking what if they come back.

“It’s just horrific.”

  • Anybody with information should contact Durham Constabulary on 101.