A couple from south Wales have spoken of their devastation at the stabbing of their daughter’s two ponies.
Their 14-year-old Fell pony and eight-year-old cob-type were found by a neighbour in a field in Nelson, South Wales on Tuesday, 8 July. Each had been killed by a single stab wound to the neck.
Owner Aron Beck and his wife, Heather Baker, were called by their neighbour who found the ponies dead when she was checking her two horses, which were in the same field.
Aron said: “I went to the field and saw them, Heather was too distraught to go”.
The horses — Murphy and Jack — belonged to Heather’s 14 year-old daughter Danielle.
Heather told H&H: “We’ve had Murphy for five years — he’s a proper school master and we bought him to give Danielle confidence.
“We had retired him and she had been out competing with Jack at novice level in cross country. They had won several prizes.
“She’s absolutely devastated. We all are.”
Three other horses in the field were uninjured.
PC Simon Farrell from Gwent police is investigating the case.
He told H&H: “Although nothing has been confirmed yet the vet attending thinks that a flat bladed instrument, about two feet long was used to stab the horses.”
A spokesman from Gwent police said: “We got the call at 8am on Tuesday 8 June and officers have since attended the scene and the horses have been removed.
“They appeared to have stab wounds and we are currently investigating the incident.”
The landowner is offering a £5000 reward for anyone who comes forward with any information that would lead to an arrest.
