Neglected horse rescued after being abandoned in Tipton field
A badly neglected horse has been rescued after being abandoned on open land in the Black Country.
Council chiefs have hit out at the 'callous owner' who left the two-year-old piebald colt on Weddell Wynd - a former landfill site in Tipton which is now grassland and woodland.
The horse was found to be riddled with lice and red worm infestation and was suffering from a burst abscess in its mouth.
It also had numerous sores – probably caused by ropes when it was being dragged off a vehicle.
WATCH: Horse rescued from grassland
Tyre marks could be seen where a vehicle had driven onto the land and off-loaded the horse.
The horse is currently in a critical care stable but is unable to stand without help.
An appeal has now been launched to trace the owner of the horse.
The Equine Emergency Services, RSPCA, West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police were all involved in rescuing the horse.
'Absolutely disgraceful'
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment, said: "This is an absolutely disgraceful incident.
"No animal should suffer the unnecessary pain and degradation which this poor horse has been subjected to.
“The horse is not micro-chipped so we are unable to trace the owner. I would appeal to anyone who has information about who is responsible for abandoning the horse and for the neglected state in which it was found in to contact the authorities.”
He added: "The council works with EES to deal with horses that are tethered or grazing illegally which we can do under The Control of Horses Act 2015.
“The act allows councils to act quickly and decisively before animals start to suffer especially in cases where they have no access to food or water, or protection.
“Horses are removed, checked for a microchip and if the owner cannot be traced, they are treated by a vet, retrained if necessary and then rehomed.”
Anyone with information about the incident or knows who the owner of the horse is, can call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 or Equine Emergency Services on 07415 376458.
