A horse has died and another has been seriously injured following a sickening attack at a stables.

Devastated owner Anita Dawson, a staff nurse at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, discovered her animals covered in blood after being stabbed multiple times in an assault described as “cruel and brutal” by police.

While it is hoped five-year-old ‘T’ will recover from the deep wounds inflicted last weekend, her 19-year-old horse Tara died on Tuesday morning after suffering neck and abdominal wounds.

Police are appealing for the public’s help in finding the attackers.

The community in Haltwhistle, where the attack happened, has rallied round in support of Anita and a reward has been put up for information leading to the identity of the attackers. More than £1,300 has been pledged via social media and collections in shops and businesses.

Anita had owned Tara since she was a young horse and has rented an enclosure with stables at a field, just off Bellister Road, for more than a decade.

A Shetland pony, also owned by Anita and kept at the site, was unhurt in the incident, which happened sometime between 6.50pm on Friday and 10am on Saturday morning.

Anita paid tribute to the efforts of staff at Capontree Vets, in Haltwhistle. She said: “I am absolutely devastated. I don’t know how anybody could do something like this to such lovely horses.

“The whole stable was covered in blood. It was like an abattoir.

“They both suffered very deep stab wounds and needed to be internally stitched.

“Tara was part of the family. We had hoped she would pull through, but it was just too much for her.

“Everybody misses her. T has been affected psychologically, and has been very jumpy.”

Inspector Kevin Oates said: “This was a cruel and brutal attack on two defenceless animals and we are determined to catch those responsible.

“Both animals were stabbed a number of times and required two vets to work together on stitching together the wounds.

“We suspect that whoever was responsible would have been in a group and would have been covered in blood.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police.