POLICE are currently investigating a report of a horse that sustained serious injuries as a result of an assault.

The incident happened overnight on Monday, August 11 in the Cheriton Bishop area.

PC Lucy Wyatt of the Rural Affairs team and Equine Lead for Devon & Cornwall Police said: ‘We’ve received reports that a horse suffered serious and unexplained injuries during the night on 11 August, and sadly had to be put to sleep.

‘While investigations are ongoing, we’re urging horse owners and those with livestock in the area to be extra vigilant’.

In the wake of the attack, officers are recommending:

  • Checking fields where animals are kept regularly to check that fences haven’t been breached and that no one else is in the field with them
  • Keeping hedges, fences and gates in good repair: field gate hinges should have capping hinges so they can't be removed easily; cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when they're not in use; use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards
  • Utilising CCTV if possible
  • Keeping gates securely padlocked
  • Signing up to HorseWatch for the latest updates on equine incidents

A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: ‘If you have any information that may assist with investigations, please contact us via the website or by calling 101, quoting reference 50250208871.

‘Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to CrimeStoppers via their website or by calling 0800 555 111’.