Cob stabbed in the neck while grazing in field

A horse has suffered ‘serious injuries’ after having his neck slashed in a vicious attack.

Horrific wound

The five-year-old cob Lloyd was grazing in his field off Saint Lukes Road in Sunderland when the attack took place between 10am and 6.30pm on 13 January.

Officers are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible.

Owner Debra Laing said her 16-year-old son discovered the horse’s horrific wound when he went to check on Lloyd in his field.

Emergency vet

“I just thought it as a little cut – but the cut was absolutely massive, so I had to call the emergency vet out,” Debra told the Derbyshire Times. “Someone has attacked him with such force, they have used an axe or a machete.

“If it had been an inch lower, he would have been dead.”

Neighbourhood inspector Lisa Laverick said they do not know the motive behind the attack or what they were “trying to achieve”.

‘Very concerning’

“We know this incident will cause concern to the local community, in particular those people who own horses and I would like to reassure them we are doing everything we can to identify those responsible so that appropriate action can be taken,” she said.

“It is clearly very concerning behaviour and officers will be working with local horse owners.

Anyone who has any information about the incident is being urged to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 609 140116 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.