Rebel, the 6-year-old horse badly injured when cruel thieves chased him in the dark last week may never be the same again even though his leg injuries are healing, says disappointed owner Katie Biggs.
Thieves who stole electric fence units also rounded the horses up into one mob and left the
paddock gates open, narrowly avoiding a disaster had they stampeded on to busy Prebensen Drive in Napier.
"He's a bit of a mess," Ms Biggs said. "He's gone from being a friendly horse to one very wary of people."
Injuries on Rebel's back were consistent with being struck several times and everyday events now caused a strong reaction from the pinto.
"There was a car that drove into the paddock and he just stood there and trembled. He can't run away from things because he can't put much weight on his leg yet. The vet said it's healing as well as can be expected."
Ms Biggs has had Rebel for three years and the Hawke's Bay Show was to be his showing debut in the in-hand and pinto categories this month. "The accident shredded his tendons and he may never get his paces back. He had very nice paces."
Ms Biggs thanked the many people who were keeping an eye on the paddock, opposite Mitre 10 Mega, in case the thieves returned.
"Everyone who knows about what happened has informed us of anything unusual in the paddock since the incident, it's been great.
Ms Biggs, 18 and in her final year at Taradale High School, said the only good thing about the incident was that she could nurse Rebel during the school holidays.
