Tails cut off horses at stables

All the horses were in a field overnight when they were attacked

Seven horses at stables in East Sussex have had their tails cut off.

Police are investigating the attacks, which could be linked to the sale of horse hair.

Owners of the Rottingdean yard are staging all-night vigils to try to stop further attacks on their animals, which did not suffer further injuries.

Anna Taylor, who keeps her horse at the stables, said someone had been climbing into the field on consecutive nights to steal the tails.

"A few days ago we thought a few of the tails had been cut a little bit, and we thought maybe some kids playing in the field, or possibly even chewed off, because that can happen," she said.

"But then one morning we got there and an entire tail was missing, and since then it's been whole tails disappearing overnight, with two nights ago two-and-a-half tails being taken all at once."

Ms Taylor said taking the tails would only hurt the horses if their tail bone was cut, but that it would take up to three years for them to grow back.

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Horse owner Carol McInnes describes what happened