Appeal for information after horse found dead at Appleby Horse Fair

Animal welfare officers attended a grass verge on the unnamed road into Brampton from the south at 12.40pm. They were assisted by vets, fire and rescue officers and police.

The piebald gelding, who’s approximately 14hh, has distinctive markings, being mostly white with black patches, all white legs with feathers and a black tail.

Vets have aged him as being between five and seven. He was not shod and looks to have been recently gelded.

What appears to have been a trader’s mark sprayed on the horse’s body in blue/green paint has been altered in an apparent attempt to disguise the trader's identity.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Lyndsey Taylor said: “This is a very upsetting incident.

“At the moment we don’t know the cause of this horse’s death, but it seems as though he may have died in suspicious circumstances.

“We are looking for evidence of him being worked, handled or traded and want to hear from the person responsible for him, or anyone who can help us to identify them.

“Do you know what colour sulky or tack was he wearing? Was he tied to a horsebox? Can you give us any number plates associated with him if he’s been pulled off a lorry?

“If you have any information that will lead us to establish what happened to this horse, please approach an RSPCA or police officer or call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 and quote incident number 01822356.”