Hunt for thug who shot pony in head with air gun
THE owner of a horse shot in the head with an air rifle has described the attacker as ‘sick’ and ‘cruel’.
Kathryn and David Watson were left distraught after discovering a air pellet lodged in the ear of their beloved pony, Jed.
The 22-year-old horse, which grazes at Werneth Low near Hyde, was injured but is expected to make a full recovery.
The Watsons have reported the incident to police and have appealed for the perpetrator to hand themselves in.
Kathryn, 52, said: “I am so distraught that someone could do that to a living, breathing creature. He would have felt a great deal of pain and discomfort.
“It scares me that someone was up there with an air riffle taking pot shots at my Jed, and in this climate, with the terror attack in Manchester and now London.
“A few inches lower and it would have blinded him.
“What they did was completely sick and cruel and I want this person caught or to hand themselves in.”
Jed has been part of the Watson family for 16 years and recently retired after a successful career showjumping at county level, endurance and show hunting.
He is one of four horses kept by the Watsons at the beauty spot, which is also home to cows and their newborn calves.
Kathryn, who lives in Woodley, Stockport, said: “Jed has been a brilliant allrounder and is enjoying his well deserved retirement as a family pet. He was living the life of Riley until now.”
Kathryn believes the shooter took aim from a lay-by which overlooks the field where Jed grazes.
She said: “Unless the person who did it was crazy enough to go walking about with the weapon, I think they were shooting from a car on the lay-by.
“It is a notorious spot which has had its fair share of anti-social behaviour. It’s where people go drinking and abusing substances at night.”
The injury was spotted when the Watsons were checking on the horses.
Kathryn said: “I was putting on some fly cream which helps them in the summer months and felt this lump. It felt like a scab and then this pellet fell out.
“Jed was in some discomfort and was resisting me. But I bet he’s glad it’s out.”
GMP are investigating. If anyone has any information call 101 quoting incident 992 of June 4, 2017.