Girl sickened at sight of 'adored' shot pony

Trevor Hall says the person who shot his young daughter's elderly pet must be 'sick, warped and twisted'. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Twelve-year-old Samantha Hall is so upset by the sight of the wound to her pony's face that she can't bear to tend to the injured animal.

Azra, her 28-year-old pony, was shot in the face by an unknown gunman on Saturday.

Police believe the incident happened between midday and 4pm while the pony was grazing in an orchard paddock in the Hawkes Bay district of Clive.

The bullet, believed to have been fired from a .22 rifle, entered just below her left eye, travelled about 20cm through the airspace in her skull, and lodged just below her ear.

"Azra is the apple of my daughter's eye," owner Trevor Hall said. " Usually she would be out there with her two to three times a day. But she almost fainted at the sight of her when she first saw her.

"She's an old pony, but she's loved and adored, and has become literally like one of our kids. I can't imagine how Samantha must be feeling or how she's coping.

"It's just awful to think someone would stoop to something like this. They must be pretty sick, warped and twisted."

Another concern was that people might have been hunting with guns near an area close to a public trail, Mr Hall said.

Napier veterinarian Helen Taylor said the shot wasn't accurate enough to have been fatal, but the pony was lucky not to have lost her eye.

The prognosis for Azra is mixed. Both vet and owner are taking things day by day.

"She's on painkillers, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, but she's certainly not out of the woods yet," Ms Taylor said.

Hastings SPCA animal attendant Murray Bain described the act as "horrendous".

"I just hope that if they do apprehend someone, they use the full force of the law to punish them."

Senior Constable Alan Daly of Clive said the shooting appeared to be planned. "It certainly doesn't look to be an accident. It's very close range and appears deliberate."