PICTURED: Is horse tail slashing in disabled riding school part of north Kent 'horse crisis'?

Three horses had their tails cut in a vicious attack between October 6 and 7 at a disabled people’s riding school, with one having its tail completely hacked off.

Two of them also had the rugs ripped off their backs during the incident at Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled in Darenth Park Avenue and police are hunting the culprits.

The RSPCA was also recently called to two separate incidents in Gravesend within a two-day period, both of which occurred within a mile of each other.

A spokeswoman admitted the organisation was "struggling to cope" with the increasing problem.

Arrow Riding Centre riding instructor and yard assistant Lacey Pilson revealed how the staff had been shocked to find their horses without tails one morning.

She said: "I’ve never seen anything like it before - we’ve never seen anything like it in the 20 years the centre has been running.

"We don’t know who did it and I just can’t think of who would do something so sick and cruel.

"When the girl went to get the five horses in from the fields, at around 7am, where they’d been overnight - three of them had their tails cut, one really badly, and two rugs had been stolen off their backs."

Ms Pilson, who has worked at the stables for two years, was horrified by the sight of the animals. 

She said: "They were really distressed and twitchy when they came in and we wonder if the people who broke into the fields and did it had also chased them round the fields. 

"They use their tails for swatting off flies in the summer and warning other horses. 

"They don’t have that protection now.

"It was shocking and upsetting for the staff and volunteers and for the people who use the stables. 

"One of the horses who had his tail cut is 22-years-old."

The RSPCA was called out to two incidents in Gravesend recently where there was public concern over neglect of the animals.

One horse, discovered in Dering Way, was in such distress it had to be put down because it was "desperately underweight and malnourished" according to an RSPCA spokeswoman.

The other, found in Lower Higham Road, was immediately referred to a vet and is now being monitored.

A spokeswoman said: "These incidents are indicative of the serious issues involved with the ever growing horse crisis we are facing in England at this time.

"The RSPCA and other horse welfare charities are struggling to cope with the numbers of abandoned, neglected and abused horses. 

"Last year we received 1,149 complaints about horses abandoned in Kent, which involved more than 4,000 horses."

Call the RSPCA anonymously on 0300 1234 999.

Anyone with information about the incident at the Arrow Riding Centre should call Kent Police on 01474 366212 quoting reference XY/35523/14.