She said: "I was called by a relative of the little girls who come here for riding and he said the horse was dead.

"I told him I'd only left him half an hour ago, but when I came up I could tell he was stone dead.

"I felt dreadful, just devastated."

Rebecca immediately called the police and a vet. She believes Henry's injuries were inflicted deliberately.

She said: "I've had him for four years and I've fed him up, he was a glorious wonderful horse, ideal for children and novice riders.

"He was a wonderful, wonderful horse, we just loved him.

"This did make me think about giving it all up, but horses have been my life for 40 years and I'm now determined to go on."

She called those who carried out the crime "evil" and warned other horse owners in the area to be vigilant.

Rebecca, who lives in Bishopmill, has six other horses and bought Henry, who was bred locally, from Andrew and Isobel Begg.

He was only moved to the Birnie field a few weeks ago because the park he was in near Brumley Brae in Elgin was being sprayed with weed killer.

Henry died sometime between 5.30pm and 6.15pm on Thursday, July 24 at a field off Rashcrook Road. Police are treating the death as suspicious.

He sustained injuries to his head, which has been sent for forensic examination with the results of the postmortem expected later next week.

Police officers investigating the crime described it as horrific.

Inspector Colin Mowat said given the time of day the incident took place, drivers and other road users would have a clear view of the field.

"We are still investigating the case and trying to get to the bottom of it," he said.

"While it's still being treated as suspicious we are keeping our minds open to the possibility that this was accidental or medical.

"We are appealing for witnesses. There are a lot of horses and owners in that area and in that case there should be a lot of witnesses.

"This has been very distressing for the owner."

Insp Mowat urged anyone in the vicinity at the time to come forward.

Henry's death comes after a spate of crimes against animals in Moray.

Since the beginning of the year 10 cats have been plied with antifreeze, several suffering long painful deaths as a result, with one heartbroken owner believing cat haters could be sprinkling the poisonous liquid on food.

And the owners of a Bishopmill cat were left sickened after their family pet was shot with an air gun and had to have its eye removed.

Initially it was thought the animal had been involved in a fight with another cat, but during an operation a pellet was found behind the cat's eyeball.

Anyone with information on Henry's death should contact Grampian Police on 0845 600 5700 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

h.lawson@northern-scot.co.uk

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