A horse has been badly mauled by a dog on a beach in the Bay of Plenty, with a vet apparently having to spend at least an hour stitching the horse's face back together.
That is according to the horse's owner, who posted a graphic photo of the animal's injuries on social media on Tuesday.
The post has been shared more than 900 times and has received hundreds of comments.
The incident is said to have taken place at Tuapiro Point near Katikati.
A police media spokesman told the Bay of Plenty Times this morning that a report was received around 12.25pm on Tuesday that a dog had attacked a rider's horse before leaving with its owner.