Horse Attacked at NZ Showjumping Event

A horse competing in a top-level showjumping event in the North Island suffered chemical burns to its face after a substance was smeared on its skin. The palomino show hunter was lucky not to suffer a serious eye injury from the attack, which is believed to have occurred on Friday night, when the horse was stabled at the Egmont A&P show grounds.

The attack has been condemned by Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ), with chief executive Jim Ellis saying he wanted those responsible identified.

Hawera police have started an animal cruelty investigation, and he anticipated penalties at the upper end of the scale by ESNZ should the offenders be members of the organisation.

The horse was in Hawera for the three-day National Showjumping Series Final.

Ellis said about 500 horses were taking part in the event, with a number housed in the significant stabling complex at the Egmont A&P Showgrounds.

It appears the horse, from outside the region, had a creosote-like substance smeared on the left side of its face some time during Friday night.

It was discovered the next morning. Stewards were advised and the police were called.

Ellis said the vet at the event tended to the horse. "She was pretty upset by it."

The horse was cleaned up and it was apparent it had suffered some kind of chemical burn. It had been smeared over or around the eye, which appears to have escaped damage.

"It was lucky not to have damaged the horse's eye," Ellis said.

Ultimately, the horse was able to compete. It received a careful veterinary assessment and, to everybody's surprise, despite the apparent burns, appeared in no discomfort or distress as a result of the incident, he said.

Ellis said there was understandably a lot interest when the horse came to compete. It successfully completed the first jump, but the rider then retired, apparently believing she had not jumped the first fence correctly.

Ellis praised the police for their work on the case. They made initial inquiries on Saturday and conducted interviews on Sunday.

He said he would be checking in the police later today.

Ellis said ESNZ made a statement on the incident in the hope that any members who may have seen or heard anything about the attack would make contact.

Should those responsible be identified, ESNZ had a wide range of sanctions available to it. He anticipated anybody found responsible at the end of the ESNZ's formal judicial process would face sanctions at the higher end of the spectrum, including possible expulsion.

Police have requested anyone who witnessed the incident to provide a written statement.

Ellis said anybody able to help with the inquiry can contact ESNZ, who will provide contact details for the Hawera police.