A HORSE rescued from abusive owners has been cut on the face by a scissor-wieldingintruder.

Horse owners have been told to be on their guard following a spate of attacks throughout Herefordshire.

The warnings come after two ponies near Tenbury were attacked on Friday, August 15.

The mane of a 10-year-old Welsh Cob was cut off and left at the scene, while another suffered an L-shaped cut on the neck.

Owner Amy Jones said the ponies were traumatised by the attack, which happened after 8.30pm on private land near Upper Sapey.

A pair of scissors has been recovered and is being examined by forensic experts.

“When we arrived in the morning we heard them galloping around. Normally they’re very placid so we knew something was wrong,” she said. “Then we saw that Danny, the eldest, had his mane cut off.”

The second horse, Abby, was rescued by Bromyard-based horse charity EMW (Equine Market Watch) in December from a meat lorry near Abergavenny.

Miss Jones believes the attacker ran off after the Welsh Cob reacted.

“We suspect they went to cut her mane but she only really trusts us. She probably reacted and that’s why she was only cut, and why the scissors were left behind.”

According to West Mercia police and Horse Watch – an equine version of neighbourhood watch – three horses grazing at Upton Bishop, near Ross-on-Wye had their manes cut off on Sunday, August 3.

The culprit left the manes at the scene, but did not injure them. “It would be fair to say we are looking at the similarities between these two cases,” said police spokeman Pete Butcher.

Anyone with information on the Upper Sapey attack, should call West Mercia Constabulary on 08457 444888. For details on Horse Watch, call 07794 453911.