A young pony has been stabbed to death at a horse sanctuary in County Longford.

The Hungry Horse Outside sanctuary said someone broke into its yard on Wednesday night and killed the one-year-old animal “in the most brutal way.”

It said the attack was “calculated and planned” and has appealed for information.

“An innocent pony, not even a year old, died needlessly and senselessly and in the most brutal way,” it said.

It described the attack as the “lowest of the low” adding that it is “really incomprehensible to us.”

“This is currently under Gardaí Investigation and we would urge anyone with information to make contact and make known anything that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for such a horrendous crime,” it said.

Cruelty

Sanctuary spokesperson Hilary Robinson said the discovery was horrific.

“We were shocked with what we found that morning,” she said.

“The Gardaí are investigating what is going on and the vet has been and verified that the foal was stabbed.

“We have trotted the length and breadth of Ireland lifting horses and picking up horses and we have never, ever since 2011 witnessed this kind of cruelty.”

Shock

She said a young child was there when the horse was found dead.

“Some of the Travelling community went in to look after their ponies on Thursday morning and that is what they found,” she said.

“One of them, as young as 14-years-old was there, still in shock, with his dad.

“They have handled it very, very maturely and well. We called the Gardaí and they came out; forensics came out – we are taking this criminal act very, very seriously.”

Gardaí said they are investigating a “suspected incident of animal cruelty following the discovery of a dead horse at a stables in Minard, Co Longford” yesterday.

They confirmed that the young foal suffered knife wounds.