Police have launched a manhunt after a horse was mutilated and left to die in a field in a “sickening assault”.
Alfie, a 16-year-old cob, was found dead near the village of Carlton-in-Lindrick in Nottinghamshire on Thursday morning.
He had last been seen fit and well at around 7pm on Wednesday by his owner.
Nottinghamshire Police said the horse had just been turned out in the field by its owner, after being ridden and bathed.
Officers are consulting CCTV footage, investigating with forensics and carrying out house-to-house inquiries.
Chief Inspector and rural and wildlife crime lead Clive Collings, said: "Although it's difficult to believe, all of the evidence shows that this was a sickening, heartless assault on a defenceless animal and I would urge anyone with information about what happened to get in contact with us as soon as possible. This is the epitome of a senseless and violence attack.”
He said that Alfie’s owner had been left “distraught by his cruel death and wants justice for him”.
Police have urged anyone with doorbell camera footage to get in touch.
Anyone who may recall seeing any suspicious activity between 7pm on Wednesday and 10.30am on Thursday is also advised to contact police.
Horse owners in the area have also been urged to be “extra vigilant given the appalling nature of this crime”.
Last March, a horse died in Cornwall after it was attacked with a knife in a field near the village of Mevagissey.
Anyone who has any information is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 244 of 25 July 2024.
