A 15-year-old girl's pet horse which had a diseased hoof was stolen and ridden through Napier to the point where bone was starting to push through.
Ashleigh Kearns' father found the horse at a Napier property three days after it was taken from its Riverbend Rd paddock last Thursday.
Residents had spotted it being ridden along roads and throughout Napier.
Now back with its teenage owner, pet horse Stella was found dehydrated and unable to walk, with a swollen mouth and ulcers, tight muscles and tendon swelling in her legs, as well as damage to her hooves.
Ashleigh's mother, Sharon Steed, said the vet described the pain as like walking without toenails.