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Anguish as ‘friend for life’ is stolen


  • A reward has been offered by the owner of a coloured mare stolen from a field in Bulphan, Essex.

    Andy Smith is so desperate to trace his 16.3hh Thoroughbred x Shire, skewbald mare that he is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to her safe return.

    Megan, an eight-year-old mare, was last seen in her field by a local farmer at around 12.30am on Saturday 10 May. At 6.30am the same morning a farmhand contacted Andy to say she was missing.

    The padlock and chain on the gate had been smashed and there was no trace of the striking coloured, although the two horses that she shared the field with were still there.

    Andy said: “I spent a long time looking for the right horse before I bought Megan – she is a real darling and when I bought her I had made the decision that I was buying a horse for life.

    “I have owned her for two years and she is an excellent all-rounder with a wonderful temperament. My 11-year-old son is a reluctant rider but loves going to see her and he is devastated.”

    Meganis a dark bay and white skewbald. Her face is brown with a white blaze, her nearside neck is mainly white and her offside neck is mostly brown. Her mane is mostly white with a black forelock while her tail is black and full. Her two front legs andchest are white as are her hind legs. She has a big brown circle on and around the dock circling the tail. All four hooves are a humbug colour in appearance.

    When food is around, Megan begs and stands with one front leg raised.

    “Megan was a very special horse and we are desperate to get her back so I am offering a £500 reward. I have already attended one horse sale and, although it is heartbreaking, I will continue to attend others in the hope of finding her.

    “My worry is that she will be shipped abroad. As she is such a quality coloured horse she would stand out like a sore thumb in this country. I have contacted several of the ports and given them her description but would ask anyone with any information to please contact the police.”

    A spokesperson for UK Horsewatch said: “This is the 11th horse to be stolen from Essex since January we would urge everyone in Essex to be exceptionally vigilant and if they have any information to contact either us or Essex police.”

    Anyone with any information should contact Essex Police (tel: 01375 391212) or click here to email Andy.

    Read more . . .

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