HORSE owners around Malvern are being warned to be on their guard after a thoroughbred Arab mare in Powick had its tail cut off.

The attack happened between 8am on Tuesday, January 1, and 5.15pm on Thursday, January 3, while the horse was in a field.

Owner Fiona Anderson said the seven-year-old mare, named Tia, was left distraught by the assault. "I went up to her field and she went mad when I touched her rug. Whoever did this must have moved her rug to get at her tail.

"She was not physically hurt - they cut the hair of her tail, not the bone - but it frightened her. We had to sedate her.

"What is worrying is not knowing why it was done. Were they marking the horse so they could steal her later? Was it because they are weird? Is there some intrinsic value in horse hair?"

She warned horse owners in the area that they should be on the lookout for intruders.

"I have been up to see her twice this morning (Friday) but you cannot spend all day looking after them," she added.

PC Laura Payne, from West Mercia Police, said: "This is a mindless and cruel thing to do to an animal and I would urge anyone with information about this crime to contact police."

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.