Police have launched a manhunt after a horse was mutilated and left to die in a field in a “sickening attack”.
Alfie, a 16-year-old boy, was found dead near the village of Carlton-in-Lindrick in Nottinghamshire on Thursday morning.
He was last seen in good health around 7 p.m. on Wednesday by his owner.
Nottinghamshire Police said the horse had just been taken out into the field by its owner after being ridden and washed.
Officers review CCTV footage, conduct forensic investigations and carry out door-to-door searches.
Clive Collings, Chief Inspector and Head of Rural and Wildlife Crime, said: “Although it is hard to believe, all the evidence shows that this was a sickening and heartless attack on a defenceless animal and I would urge anyone with information about what happened to contact us as soon as possible. This is the epitome of a senseless and violent attack.”
He said Alfie’s owner was “devastated by his cruel death and wanted justice for him”.
Police have asked anyone with doorbell footage to contact them.
Anyone who remembers seeing 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 “extremely vigilant given the appalling nature of this crime”.
In March, a horse died in Cornwall after being stabbed in a field near the village of Mevagissey.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 244 of 25 July 2024.
