A rescue operation is under way in Buckinghamshire to save 84 horses, ponies and donkeys from a field where more than 30 animals have already died.
The RSPCA, Thames Valley Police, the International League for the Protection of Horses and Redwings Horse Sanctuary are involved in the rescue from a location in Amersham.
A total of 31 animals were found dead at the site on Friday and three more were destroyed as they were too ill to be moved or rehabilitated.
The horses, ponies and donkeys had been neglected and left where their bodies had fallen, according to animal welfare workers.
The RSPCA said 14 animals were removed over the weekend "on veterinary advice" and were taken to the Home of Rest for Horses at Westcroft Stables in Speen, near Princes Risborough.
Staff from the three charities have been working to remove the remaining animals today.
Some of the horses will be cared for by Redwings and the others by the RSPCA.
Redwings said more than 30 of its staff and eight horseboxes and trailers were involved in the rescue.
"Our expert team have travelled to rescues on many occasions and provided a home from and/or transportation from the place of rescue but rarely sees cruelty so far advanced that equines are seemingly forgotten and literally left to die," the sanctuary said in a statement.
"All organisations involved in this rescue are deeply concerned about the welfare of the remaining and surviving horses, ponies and donkeys."
The RSPCA is likely to push for the owner of the horses to be prosecuted, a spokeswoman for the charity said.
Thames Valley Police arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and criminal damage.
Labels: Buckinghamshire, Horses, Rescue, RSPCA
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:00 AM
