Overnight, Sunday/Monday, May 15/16, the stable-yard and tack-room at St Francis Fields, Northiam were entered, field gates were opened and horses let out or chased around. This was no accident. Whether it was an attempted theft of horses or just a malicious act isn’t known.
As a result, a pregnant mare either had her leg broken deliberately or broke her leg in a panic and was found dead in a field early on Monday morning by the young daughter of the stables tenant. The mare was to be brought into the stables this week as her foal was due in three weeks’ time and she was probably the most valuable of the horses on site.
It is likely that those responsible accessed the stables and horse-fields from the entrances to the footpath. The St Francis Fields CIC team and Northiam Parish Council will be considering additional security to the fields and estate, in the meantime the footpath across St Francis Fields is closed.
If anyone has any idea who might be responsible for this mindless act of vandalism resulting in the death of a pregnant horse, please contact the Parish Clerk on clerk@northiamvillage.co.uk, St Francis Fields CIC or stfrancisfieldsnorthiam@gmail.com, or report it to the police on 101, quoting crime number 47220087627.
Karen Ede, a friend of the stables tenant has set up a fundraising page at gofundme.com: Show support for helpless mare and foal killed
It is most shocking what people do these days – what a terrible and mindless act!!
OMG what a heartbreaking story how could any one be so cruel. I hope the police find this absolute scum who done this to a innocent creature.