A MARE belonging to a supporter of a Monmouth-based horse rescue charity has been brutally killed in its stable.

The owner of the horse was distraught to find it lying dead in its stable from injuries caused, believe society members, in a revenge attack.

They claim the animal was killed by more than one person in revenge for publicity attracted by the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies about the state of neglected horses and ponies.

Another horse had 17 stitches inserted in a slashed face and the society believes the same gang was responsible. Police are investigating but no arrests have been made.

A reward of £1,000 has been offered by private individuals for information leading to the conviction of those responsible. There have been numerous calls from animal lovers for the neglected horses involved to be rounded up and taken away.

But in the meantime society members and supporters are feeding them daily and this is estimated to have cost the charity £3,500 since Christmas.

In addition animal feed has been donated by various companies.

Society trustee Alasdair MacGregor said: "We have taken in 18 animals and two of them have died. Our vets' bills for these horses is in excess of £3,000.

"Our total outgoings for the year which ended in February were almost £100,000 and all that money has to be raised or donated."

The society's publicity officer, Sian Lloyd, said: "The two horses were brutally attacked, and there has been a further attempt to get into the stable which the police are also investigating because they were called out that night as well.

"We were all appalled to hear this horror story - it is so awful to imagine the pain inflicted on both horses, which were totally innocent and trusting."