Horses flee as vandals target Brownhills stables
Vandals smashed their way into a stables in Brownhills leaving behind a trail of damage allowing horses to try to escape.
More than 20 horses managed to get free with staff and volunteers having to round them up, with many on the nearby Clayhanger estate.
The group of yobs are believed to have smashed eight locks, chains and cut through fences at Stevie Ansell's Horse Riding and Therapy Centre, off Pelsall Road.
Some foals aged just between three to seven weeks were allowed to run free with mature horses causing the risk of serious injury.
While one of the oldest, 25 year-old Showdoo, was ridden on and whipped with a stick after being taken out of the paddock during the incident on Monday night.
An appeal has now been launched with a reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone responsible for what happened.
A total of 21 horses managed to get out as some paddocks at the 50 acre site were wedged open but were all returned to the stables.
The majority ended up near the Clayhanger residential estate, but did not cause any damage. Some ended up at the bottom of fields near Ryders Hayes.
The stables has already been targeted up to four times this year and the last attack is expected to have caused up to £400 damage alone.
Locks and fencing has needed to be replaced and the business' Jeep was also damaged. It is believed they may have tried to steal the on-site vehicle.
Owner Stevie Ansell was alerted after 9pm on Monday by friends in Clayhanger and with the help of volunteers managed to get the horses back in by around 12.30am on Tuesday.
She condemned those responsible and said: "They are just low lives.
"They would have had to know where the gates are.
"We have have reports they were actually shooing them.
"We got them all back but it could have caused a lot of danger.
"They could have caused accidents on the road.
"The whole community is horrified, my phone has not stopped ringing I must have had hundreds of phone calls."
She added: "I put money into the riding stables to keep it open, it is a fantastic place it does so much good for people."
Anyone with information is urged to call police or Stevie on 07950 314091.
