Horse put to sleep after being dumped in Peterborough lane with horrific leg injuries

A shocked horse rider discovered the injured pony on Friday January 24 at around 11.45am.

The horse, an eight-year-old black gelding with a white star on his face, was so injured he would not have been able to walk to this location on his own and so must have been transported. The rider had passed the same spot at around 11am and the horse was not there so he must have been left between the time of 11am and 11.45am.

The RSPCA, police and a vet were called to help the pony who was in so much pain he was unable to walk and had infected bloody masses on both his hind legs which had been left untreated.

Rescuers were horrified to discover the extent of the infection in both the legs - which were swollen, covered in pus, blood and hard growths. The growth on the right hind was described as around the size of a basketball.

RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs who attended said: “The injuries and infections on this horse were just horrific and this is genuinely one of the worst horse injuries I have had to deal with in my career.

“The horse could only just stand - but could barely take any steps as he was in so much pain. His legs were infected and swollen - his left hind was twice the size it should have been while the right was even worse than that.

“The smell from the infection was overwhelming and you could tell that this poor horse had just given up.

“He was examined by an independent vet and the sad decision was made to put the horse to sleep to prevent him suffering any longer.

“When his right hind was examined his leg was covered in blood and pus and we think that maybe was as a result of a dog attack. But the left hind was far, far worse with a mass of hard growth covered in blood and pus and his hoof was overgrown and also twisted with a possible deformity.

“I am horrified that someone allowed this horse to get in such a condition and he would have been in so much pain. He was also very thin.

“I am very keen to find the owner of this horse. He was found at the location where he would not have been able to get there by himself, so he must have been transported there by someone.

“I would ask that if anyone recognises this pony, knows who the owner is, or saw anything suspicious in the area in the time leading up to him being found I would urge you to call me on the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018 “