THE RSPCA are hunting two men who left a bleeding horse on a busy road after it collided head-on with a car.
The animal was seriously hurt in the collision, which took place in Bilston, Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, on Sunday, May 13.
According to the RSPCA, the horse, which was attached to a cart, bolted into traffic, running straight into a Volkswagon car - smashing its windscreen.
The mare, which had been taking part in a procession of a traditional horse-drawn carriages in Great Bridge Road, was seriously injured in the incident, sustaining cuts to its front and legs.
The family in the car were uninjured.
Two men travelling in the cart attached to the horse, believed to be its owners, detached the cart and fled the scene, hiding their faces, leaving the injured horse on the road.
Passers by tended to the animal, which was "bleeding profusely".
The injured horse (Pictures: RSPCA)RSPCA Inspector Vicki Taylor said: "The horse was lying in the road and bleeding where the smashed windscreen had cut into her front and legs.
"This was a shocking sight and she was clearly suffering.
"Thankfully, the family who were in the car were uninjured but their vehicle was badly damaged.
"When I arrived, the men with the horse had already left, dragging the trap away with them. Witnesses provided photos of the owners taking off the trap and leaving the horse in the road.
The men hid their faces as they left the scene of the accident"It must have been such a shock to be involved in an accident like this, but these men essentially abandoned this horse to die."
She added: "As they left, the men were pictured trying to hide their faces.
"We are now appealing for anyone who may recognise the horse, or the men in these images, to contact us in strictest confidence on the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018."
The mare, who is about seven years old, is also underweight but is now recovering at a private boarding establishment in RSPCA care.
Insp Taylor added: “Thankfully there are no obvious broken bones and the equine vet is positive she will recover despite the open wounds which may take a while to start healing.”
The damage to the Volkswagon car invovled in the collisionThe RSPCA claim the number of horses they have rescued b has reached a four-year high, adding: "The horse crisis continues to have devastating consequences."
