Attack on horses sparks 'wonderful' response

Queenstown horse owners Lu Bagrie, left, and Jude Nickolls with the tails hacked from their horses. Photo / ODT

Jude Nickolls was brought to tears again yesterday - this time by the kindness and generosity of strangers.

Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times reported two horses belonging to Mrs Nickolls - her top dressage horse, Glenview Caballero (Cabby), and Jazz - along with Arna, a horse owned by Lu Bagrie, had the hair from their tails hacked off between 5.30pm on Monday and 9am on Tuesday.

The horses were in a paddock on the corner of Ladies Mile (State Highway 6) and Stalker Rd in Queenstown, and the horses' hair was dumped in the paddock.

Yesterday, the story was shared widely via social media from news websites. Mrs Nickolls told the ODT yesterday afternoon that the reaction to her story had been "amazing".

"I'm getting messages ... and offers of help from people I don't even know.

"I can't believe it ... it is absolutely humbling.

"For so many people to be so kind and wonderful ...what a wonderful way to have your faith in people restored."

Along with numerous messages of support, including emails from as far afield as Japan, Mrs Nickolls had been inundated with offers of assistance.

Finishing Touch Equestrian, based in Kaiapoi, near Christchurch, had offered to supply a tail wrap for Cabby at cost price, while another "wonderful lady" had offered to make her a false tail from the remaining hair.

Provided the tail wrap and false tail did not contain metal, Cabby would be able to use them to compete in dressage competitions.

Sarah Williams, of Tale of a Horse, in Auckland, had offered to make braided jewellery for the women from the cut hair and there had also been offers to help find products to speed up the horses' hair growth.

However, Mrs Nickolls said she might not be able to use such products on Cabby due to horse drug-testing at national events.

Friends in Queenstown have rallied behind the women - one even delivering baking to help lift their spirits.

"What an amazing place we live in," Mrs Nickolls said.

"Thank you to everybody.

"This outpouring of help and love and kindness is just absolutely humbling.

"It has totally blown me away."

While Mrs Nickolls had little hope the police would apprehend the offender or offenders, she was pleased other people were aware of the incident and had now turned her attention to training Cabby.

The horse is due to begin the competition season soon, culminating at her showing in the Horse of the Year in Hastings in March.