A SIGNIFICANT number of horses have been found dumped across mid and south Essex – prompting concerns from animal welfare charities.

Recent incidents include a foal’s body being abandoned in Middlemead, West Hanning - field, in February and a pregnant mare callously dumped while she was giving birth in Orsett.

She died in labour on the side of the road.

Later the same month, a colt was found dumped by the side of the road in Lower Stock Road, West Hanningfield.

Three horses were found dumped in three days in February, with a dead horse left by the side of Dunton Road in Herongate, and another dead horse found the same day in Hockley.

Another dead horse was then found by the side of Brentwood Road in Orsett two days later.

Although the increase in the number of horses being abandoned has been sudden, it has been an ongoing issue for many years, with a number of horses dumped on the sides of roads and in fields for many years.

Part of the problems are due to the horses either falling ill and owners being unable or unwilling to pay for veterinary fees.

Many rescue centres have reported that they are full and struggling to cope with the high number of horses being brought to them.

Sue Allery, chairman of trustees at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society, said: “Unfortunately it is com - mon that we see a number of dumped horses. Mainly this is due to indiscriminate breed - ing.

“Unfortunately I don’t know what the answer is, but is it disgusting.

“The people who just dump the horses are inhuman.”

A spokesman from the RSPCA added that it has also re - ceived a lot of reports about animals being neglected.

He added: “We are very con - cerned that there have been so many equine incidents in this area and our inspectors have been working hard to rescue and help as many equines as they are able.

“Sadly this is an issue we see far too often.”