Dead pony tied to lamppost and left to rot in car park

A manhunt is underway for a cruel animal owner who left a starving pony to die in a village car park.

The RSPCA found the creature ‘dumped like fly-tipped rubbish’ in Snarestone, Leicestershire after receiving a tip-off from a passer-by.

It is though the callous owner transported the emaciated horse in a truck before tying a rope from her legs to the lamppost and riving away from the scene.

Now an appeal has been launched for anyone with information to get in touch following the grim discovery on Wednesday.

RSPCA Inspector Alison North said: ‘The small chestnut horse looked to be in poor body condition with her ribs, hips and spine protruding, and she had overgrown hooves.

‘The pony was not microchipped and locals say they haven’t seen her in the area before.

‘It’s unclear what caused her death, but we suspect her body was driven to the location on a trailer or truck by those responsible who then tied rope from her legs to the lampost, before driving away, dragging her body out of the vehicle onto the floor.

‘It’s incredibly sad to think someone not only let her get into a poor state of health, but then dumped her body for somebody else to deal with in such a public place, it’s hugely irresponsible.

‘Anyone with information can contact me in complete confidence on our inspector appeal line by calling 0300 123 8018.’

The RSPCA says it is not uncommon to be called out to gravely ill or dead horses who have been left to rot.

A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘The country has been in the grip of an ongoing horses crisis for several years, thought to be caused by the recession, over breeding, the high costs of vet bills, the rising cost of hay and falling prices for horses.

‘Last year, the RSPCA took in more than 820 horses in addition to those already in its care and received more than 20,000 calls to the emergency line about horses alone.’