Warnings issued after horses found dead near Melton

Flossie, a three-year-old rescue pony, was found in a field at Granby and the horse he spent most of his time with - eight-year-old Merry Legs - was discovered in a nearby shed.

Both had sweat patches and had been frothing from their noses and mouths, which is acknowledged as an indicator of being poisoned.

A devastated Lisa-Michelle Hall, who owned Flossie for just eight months, said: “We intially thought Flossie had died after having a fall.

“But then when Merry Legs was found and both horses had the same sweating and frothing symptoms it was clear that it was poisoning.

“We found lots of rubbish people had left in the field from a picnic, including corn on the cob and wrappers, and we think the horses have come into contact with that.

“A lot more people are using the bridleway through the field now and they should be aware that they should take more care with what they leave behind.”

Flossie’s death was particularly sad because he was rescued after being abandoned as a young foal halfway between Burrough on the Hill and Great Dalby.

He was gaining strength and enjoying a new lease of life with a caring family.

Lisa-Michelle, who lives in Melton, said: “He was a lovely, friendly horse and so gentle.

“My two children, who are six and 13, absolutely adored him and we are all so upset to lose him.”

She added: “I would say to anyone who comes across a horse in a field to not feed them.

“There is no need to because they have plenty of grass in their fields, as Flossie and Merry Legs did.

“No-one should leave unwanted food or throw their rubbish into a field because this is what can happen.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Jane Heerbeck, who rescued Flossie after finding him abandoned before Lisa-Michelle took over caring for her.

Jane, who is also chair of Leicestershire HorseWatch, said: “Flossie was very poorly when I first found him so it is very sad what has happened.

“The loss of both of these horses has left two families devastated.”

She urged people to take more care when they are out exercising in fields and along bridleways.

“Lots of people are out walking dogs at the moment and we’ve had incidents of dogs chasing sheep and horses and other people throwing bags of dog poo over hedges which can also be dangerous for other aninals if they come into contact with it,” Jane added.

“The message we would give is don’t feed horses and close gates behind you.

“People have also been discarding their garden waste in fields with the tips currently shut and it is important to realise that grass cuttings can kill horses if they eat them.”