She was a future eventing star and loved by rider Lisa Hebberley, but now three-year-old filly Promise has been ruined thanks to a motiveless attack.
At 9pm on Monday two people climbed into the horse's Awatoto paddock, held her, and savagely whipped her. Deep cuts on her leg will leave permanentscars and her personality and trust have been destroyed.
"She is jumpy and won't let me anywhere near her legs," Miss Hebberley said. "I saved her from the meatworks when she was only six months old and have spent so much time and money on her. She's my baby."
The competitive rider was about to feed Promise and her paddock mate on Monday night when the horses suddenly went crazy, one jumping into the neighbouring field.
"We heard this massive crack, like a large horse whip, then Promise went flying down the paddock and two people with torches went running away. Then I saw all the blood coming down her legs," Miss Hebberley said.
It is the second time in as many months that Promise has been targeted. Six weeks ago intruders rode the horse before doing wheelies in the paddock and stealing the electric fencing.
Miss Hebberley had sent her away for intensive reschooling to recover from that incident. Promise was back in her paddock only two nights before being whipped.
Miss Hebberley did not know why her horse was targeted, but said she wore a halter and was easy to catch.
"If I got hold of the people who did this I would do the same thing to them. If they can whip a horse surely they can handle that themselves," she said.
Police are investigating both incidents, but the attacks are not isolated. Miss Hebberley knows of at least four other horse owners who have had their paddocks broken into and wheel marks left behind.
