£1,000 reward offered as police probe horse attack

THE owner of a horse which died after being stabbed and sexually assaulted in Aberdeenshire has said she will “never come to terms” with losing her.

Blaze the horse, who sadly had to be put down. Picture: Zoe Wright / Facebook

Zoe Wright, 30, from Maud, said her 23-year-old horse, Blaze, was “stabbed twice in the chest and sexually violated” in a field in New Pitsligo, near Peterhead, overnight between Sunday and Monday.

She has offered £1,000 to anyone with information regarding the incident which has resulted in her “beautiful” horse, having to be put down by vets due to the severity of its injuries.

Police Scotland has confirmed it is carrying out an investigation following the death of the horse and has advised residents to regularly check on their animals and report any unusual or suspicious incidents they witness.

Ms Wright described the attack on the retired showjumper in a Facebook post which has been shared more than 10,400 times.

She wrote: “On the 16th/17th of August between the hours of 9pm and 6am someone came into my horse’s field and stabbed my beautiful old girl Blaze twice in the chest before sexually violating her.

“Blaze was put to sleep after succumbing to her injuries.

“My lovely Blaze was the nicest pony, she has been part of our family for 18 years, the complete low-life scum who did this to her needs to face justice for what they have done.”

She also urged other horse owners in the area to check their animals and look out for any suspicious cuts.

An autopsy was carried out on the much-loved family pet at the Scottish Agricultural College at Craibstone where the vet discovered internal haemorrhaging from two stab wounds and internal bruising caused by a blunt object.

Her post has drawn hundreds of comments. One on Facebook said: “Really sorry to hear this has happened to your horse. Prison is too good for the sick person who is responsible for this horrendous crime.”

Another reads: “This gives me chills, what a sick sick thing to do. So sorry you lost your beautiful girl, so sad and unnecessary.”

SSPCA senior inspector Alison Simpson has confirmed that the organisation has received a number of calls in regards the “disturbing incident” and are assisting the police with their inquiries.

Police Scotland Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened to the horse but I would appeal directly to any neighbours or residents in the area who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious in the days before this happened.

“As a result of this cruel act a horse has died and a family have now lost a much-loved animal.

“We have not received any reports of similar incidents in the area but I would urge horse owners to check their animals regularly and report anything unusual to police.

“Patrols are carried out frequently in rural areas but we do rely on residents, landowners and people who work in the area to contact us to report anything unusual or suspicious.

“Anyone with concerns about rural crime can contact Police Scotland on 101.”