An owner who found her horse tightly entwined in an electric fence fears the lovable pet was deliberately attacked as part of a gruesome, ritualistic cult.

George suffered irreparable injuries to both left legs after he was found lying in a field in Blackgate Lane, Pulborough.

Despite receiving 24-hour vet care for a week, owners Luke Welfare and Zoe Walker, who run Soul Equestrian at Scrase Farm, realised the two-year-old New Forest pony had to be put down.

Miss Walker, who bought George 18 months ago, thinks the attack on September 9 could have been carried out by a cult during a full moon.

She said: “I was distraught when I found him. The wire had been wrapped around his two left legs so many times it had completely killed the blood supply to his feet. I didn't think people could be so disturbed as to do something like this.

“It might just be a coincidence but if I had known about the attacks before I would have brought him into the stables that night and he might still be here.”

Miss Walker, who still owns three horses, said she instantly fell in love with the “one in a million” pet who was like a “big dog” and would happily come into the house.

She said: “I loved him like a child. He followed me everywhere. He was spoilt rotten and will be forever missed.”

Miss Walker keeps George’s cremated remains in her bedroom at home.

PC Jonny Walker said: “There’s no apparent reason why this horse or these stables should have been targeted in this isolated incident, but we would like to hear from anyone who has any information about this, saw anything suspicious, or has experienced anything similar.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “The owner of the horse suggested to an officer that there had been attacks on animals when there was a full moon but there have been no similar incidents in West Sussex in recent years.

“We are continuing to investigate the incident but there is no evidence to suggest that it happened because there was a full moon that night.”

An RSPCA spokeswoman urged anyone with information to call the police in confidence and said: “Deliberately causing suffering to an animal could mean a £20,000 fine and or six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act.”

Email Sussex Police on 101@sussex. pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting 1096 of 18/09.