British police are hunting a gang of thugs who deliberately drowned a pony by pushing it into a lake.
Horrified onlookers spotted the group of 12 men and boys forcing the two-year-old animal and its trap into the 2.4 metre-deep water.
Officers are also investigating reports the yobs used sticks to beat the piebald cob pony as it tried desperately to haul itself out of Hawley Lake, near Farnborough, Hampshire. They also tried to push in two other ponies, also attached to their traps.
A horrified 21-year-old walker trying to rescue the first pony was kicked in the head and knocked unconscious by the panicking animal. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Frimley Park Hospital but has since been discharged.
Unable to clamber out, the pony tried to swim to the other side but was dragged down by the wooden trap and drowned on Saturday afternoon.
The body was removed from the lake by Hampshire Fire Service firefighters with the help of Ministry of Defence divers, who use the lake, in a three-hour operation.
Hampshire Police also launched a joint investigation with the RSPCA to find those responsible.
Sophie Wilkinson, of the RSPCA, said: “It’s an extremely cruel and shocking thing that these people have done and we have no idea why they did it.
“It seems a gang of 12 men and boys lined up three ponies and traps and tried to force them into the water - they succeeded with this one.”
Police spokesman Alan Smith added: “When the attempt to push a second and third pony into the lake failed, the group of people drove them and their traps away in the direction of Yateley.
“There were a number of people around at the time including dog walkers and fishermen and we would like to hear from witnesses.”- Daily Mail