Dead ponies found partially eaten by something in a pasture, SC officials say
A week after investigators closed the book on a rash of mysterious horse attacks along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, reports of four ponies found dead in their pasture surfaced.
They were partially eaten, media outlets report.
The Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Department is investigating their deaths in Chesnee after meeting with the owner Wednesday, WYFF reported.
Chesnee is less than three miles from the North Carolina border.
Investigators arrived at the property to find “four decaying and deteriorating bodies,” according to WYFF.
The owner, James Sexton, told WSPA he found the Welsh Ponies in their pasture off Highway 11 on Dec. 8, when he went to bring them hay and feed.
“Whatever got them ate her throat out and the two black colts, it ate their faces off,” he said, according to WSPA.
An incident report stated there weren’t any wounds indicative of “human-related involvement,” the media outlet reported.
But there were old and new paw prints surrounding the ponies, according to Fox Carolina. Investigators have since set a live animal trap in the pasture.
The attack could be related to another in the area involving a small pack of dogs that chased and injured a cow and calf, Fox Carolina reported.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has attributed five horse attacks in the area over a four-week span to wild boars, McClatchy News previously reported.
But there were at least 12 horse injuries or deaths during the same time period, Deb Messmer, an equine advocate from Gowensville who started collecting reports from locals, told McClatchy.
She said they’re still seeking answers.
“We know they are doing their best but many of us would like the other concerns brought to law enforcement’s attention addressed,” Messmer said.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Dead ponies found partially eaten by something in a pasture, SC officials say."
