A HORSE has been left fighting for its life after being shot in the head at point-blank range.

Nineteen-year-old Mr Darcy suffered a fractured skull after being shot in the forehead with an airgun on the outskirts of Durham City last week, and it is now uncertain whether he will survive.

Owner Rebecca Williams believes the thoroughbred is so friendly he may have walked over to the thugs who left him with such horrific injuries.

The bay gelding was found badly injured in a field off the A177 between Shincliffe and Bowburn on Sunday, July 11.

He has since been under the care of specialist equine vets in Northumberland, who say they are not sure whether he will survive after he developed an infection in his wound.

Ms Williams, deputy manager of the Felledge Animal Centre, in Chester-le-Street, said: “Even working at the RSPCA and seeing the things I see, I find it unbelievable that anyone could do such a thing.

“Mr Darcy is such a friendly horse he’s probably gone over to the person responsible to say hello.

“I’m absolutely devastated by what’s happened.”

The 32-year-old bought Mr Darcy nine years ago, saving up for a year from the wages of her first job. Four years ago, he suffered a near-fatal episode of colic but she nursed him back to health, then gave him a well-deserved retirement.

She said: “He was very seriously ill and had life or death surgery, but he was very lucky and he pulled through. It was an awful time and this is just as bad.

“When I realised he had been shot I just burst into tears. He was very disorientated and in shock and I was crying my eyes out.”

RSPCA inspector Ruth Coxon said: “They have shot him in the forehead at very close range causing horrendous injuries from which it’s not known whether he’ll recover.

“The suffering caused to this friendly horse was deliberate and cruel and I want to know who is responsible.”

Anyone who has any information is asked to call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300-1234-999 and leave a message for Inspector Coxon.