TASHA Nicholas has had her faith in human-kind shattered when she discovered someone had hung a horse in a Gonville paddock.
Ms Nicholas cares for a racehorse which is kept in a Bignell St paddock and was sickened by the "sadistic act".
"He was hanging between two trees for about 15 hours.
Someone
wrapped four lines of fishing twine twice around his neck and hung him," she said.
The former racehorse, called Joe, had his front legs off the ground and the more he struggled, the tighter the twine cut into his neck.
There was also a chance he could have bled to death if the twine cut his throat.
Clumps of scattered wood and trodden grass gave some clues as to the struggle Joe put up.
Ms Nicholas said it wasn't the first time Joe had been victimised.
"About three weeks ago someone lifted the gate off its hinges and let him out onto the road ? the police had to round him up."
"I'm disgusted that anyone could do this?.it's sadism."
Joe isn't her horse but she takes care of him and is devastated someone keeps trying to harm him.
"People think he is dangerous, they chase him with sticks. I just don't know what would go through someone's head [to do this]."
A tearful Ms Nicholas said vets couldn't tell them how much pain he was in, but he wasn't walking properly and his racing days were over.
"I just don't want to come down here one day and find him dead. Attempt number three and he's dead or someone will get hurt," she said.
Police have told Ms Nicholas the incident could result in charges being laid if the culprits ? and evidence ? were found.
