A horse had to undergo a three-hour, £6,000 operation after suffering gruesome injuries in a suspected scissor attack. Four-year-old Duke was left with blood pouring from his left eye after being found with cuts on Wednesday (February 22).
His owner Sarah Medley-Johns, 42, says she has been left anxious following the attack. Police are now investigating.
Sarah, a part-time farm worker from Cambridgeshire, said: "It’s so cruel. Duke is a gorgeous gentle giant. He’d put his head forward to say, ‘Hi’ to somebody. He’s not to know they were going to take scissors to his eye.
“It feels like such a personal attack. He’s my absolute pride and joy."
Sarah bought Duke, a Clydesdale, for her 40th birthday. She stumbled upon the attack last week after dropping her daughter, 11, off at school.
She arrived at work and noticed two figures scarpering over the fence, she alleges. And she claims the CCTV had been disconnected when she went to investigate.
Sarah, who also owns two other horses, said: "I couldn’t believe it. How can someone do something like this?
"They literally pulled out hit bottom eyelid and sliced it, and left I hanging off like a slug. They even had the nerve to use my own scissors they took from the hay barn."
Sarah took Duke to the vets, where it was decided he needed surgery. She said: “Wednesday afternoon was very tense. I’m so relieved he’s through it and so happy to have him back home.”
"I'd like to say a big thank you to Equine Vets for being so understanding and kind to me and Duke. They're worth their weight in gold."
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Sarah says she is suffering anxiety because of the attack and is now constantly worried about her three horses. She believes the attack is tied to four horse thefts she claims to have also suffered over the last two years.
Sarah, a mum-of-two, said she has reported all incidents to the police. She said: "Do everything you can to protect your animals. All it takes is one sick person to hurt them.
"Lots of animals have no reason not to trust people. These people don’t care what they do to you or your animals.”
Sarah has asked for the name and exact location of the stables not to be published through fear of reprisals.
Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called on Wednesday (22 Feb) with reports of suspicious activity at an equestrian yard in [redacted]. Officers attended and found a horse with injuries which are being treated as suspicious.
"This is believed to be an isolated incident and an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the injuries. Anyone with any information is urged to contact police online or via 101 quoting incident: 35/14063/23.”
