THE Albury-Wodonga Equestrian Centre is on “high alert” after a horse was found mutilated at one of its agistment paddocks on Tuesday.
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President Bradley Hayden said yesterday agistees and members had been notified of the incident and the threat to the safety of horses in paddocks off Corrys Road, Thurgoona.
The centre committee will meet next week to discuss a plan to tackle security concerns.
In the meantime, Mr Hayden urged horse owners and the public to be vigilant.
“We like to think equestrian centre members all know each other and they tend to look out for each other and their horses,” Mr Hayden said.
“But we would like to ask the general public or anyone walking around the area to keep a lookout and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.
“It is alarming and disturbing to know there is anyone out there who wants to harm an animal.
“We all aspire to have horses that are quiet and easy to manage but it’s just these sorts of horses that are the easiest targets.”
Mr Hayden would not speculate on whether he believed the person responsible for previous horse mutilations was behind this week’s incident.
“I don’t want to think of it happening again but given the scenario of a few years ago, this may not be a one-off incident,” he said.
Yesterday Dr Bob Fielding, the veterinarian treating the injured horse, issued a special notice to centre members.
“Please be advised that a gelding belonging to an agistee of the centre was attended to yesterday by veterinarian Bob Fielding,” he wrote.
“The gelding has wounds consistent with a strangulation type injury to the end of the penis — this is consistent with similar injuries seen previously in this area.
“We would ask that you be aware of this and be vigilant and report anything suspicious to the
local police.”