Probe as dead horse found tied up in barbed wire

Red, a one-year-old pony, was found with barbed wire wrapped around its back leg

A horse has been found dead with barbed wire tied around its front and back legs in what police believe was an intentional killing.

Julie Jackson, 58, from Newport, said her "soul had been ripped out" after the body of Skye, who she owned for 30 years, was discovered in a water-filled ditch.

Gwent Police said two injured ponies - also with barbed wire on their legs - were found alongside Skye in a farmer's field adjacent to the Marshfield paddock near Wentlooge where they were being kept.

Mrs Jackson said a gate between the two properties that has been wired shut for years was cut open, making her initially think her horses had been stolen.

"My horses are very clever, but there is no way they could've cut the barbed wire fence and opened the gate," she said.

She inquired with a farmer next door and was told Skye was dead and two ponies were hurt.

One-year-old Oak had its two front legs tied together with barbed wire, she said, while Red, also one, "had wire twisted tightly around one leg, into his flesh".

A second one-year-old pony, Oak, was found with both front legs tied together

"This is what has destroyed me," she said, adding that the horse was "as old as my children".

"I've lived more years with her in my life than I have without her."

She said ponies Red and Oak were recovering, but urged other horse owners in the area to be vigilant.

Red was injured by the barbed wire but is now recovering

"The fields [the horses] were walked across run alongside the main inter-city trainline [between Cardiff and London]."

Her hope, she said, was that "someone has seen something suspicious in the early hours of the morning".

Police said inquires were ongoing after the discovery on Tuesday 19 November.