A black and white horse was found abandoned on a grassy verge in Walsall with its legs and neck bound by blue rope, prompting an RSPCA investigation. The horse’s carcass was discovered on December 20, and while it showed no obvious signs of injury, it remains unclear if it was alive or dead when dumped. RSPCA officers suspect the horse was transported by trailer or lorry, then callously discarded by its owners. The charity is seeking information about the horse’s ownership and the circumstances surrounding its disposal, describing the act as distressing and irresponsible.

The RSPCA highlighted that cases of abandoned and dumped animals, including horses, have surged by over 23% in 2024, with 24,270 incidents reported in the first ten months alone—equating to one abandonment every nine minutes. The charity attributes this increase partly to the cost of properly disposing of dead horses, which leads some owners to discard them illegally. The RSPCA urges anyone with information to come forward to help address this troubling trend ahead of a potentially difficult winter for animal welfare.