A WOMAN has spoken about how shocked she was to discover one of her horses abandoned in a ditch and left for dead in an attempted theft in Wrexham.

Lisa Parrish, owner of the Legacy Riding Centre in Rhos, told the Leader how she was shocked to find Kori – a 34-year-old Arabian horse – abandoned in a ditch with injuries to his eyes and heels due to being tangled up in fence wire.

Lisa, 38, explained that the incident, which is thought to have taken place overnight on Saturday, January 4, left Kori out in the field in freezing temperatures for possibly hours.

She said: “For a 34-year-old, he is recovering from the ordeal remarkably well.

"Some people have asked whether he may have gotten out himself and ended up in the ditch but he would have had to leave his stable, get off a gated yard, broken electric fence tape, gotten through another closed gate and over a muck heap to get to where he fell and got stuck. He is of no monetary value and is un-rideable, but we love him. He has been part of the family for the last 27 years.”

Lisa said that Kori is on anti-inflammatory medication and has ointment for his eye injury, but says he is doing well considering his age. She added that the centre has invested in extra security measures and have been liaising with the local police since the incident.

A spokesman for Wrexham Rural policing team said: “Rota 3 investigating an incident at Legacy Riding Centre which occurred sometime Saturday, January 4, where an elderly horse has been injured. An equine Vet has checked the horse and he appears to be OK. Horse Watch have been made aware.”

Anyone who saw anything suspicious call 101 quoting Y002024.