A horse owner in Derbyshire says she has been left heartbroken after her 10-year-old mare died surrounded by dozens of carrots and pizza slices dumped by passers-by.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, says she believes her horse died as a result of eating food not meant for her.
She found her horse, Sassy, lying on the ground and in desperate need of help.
She died in her arms just 20 minutes later.
Sassy's owner has now issued a warning to walkers to avoid feeding any animals in the countryside as it could have horrific consequences, reports Derbyshire Live.
Derbyshire-based equine behaviourist Ross Cooper echoed her warning, saying: "Horse owners all over the UK are experiencing increased footfall on footpaths adjacent or through their land as a result of the lockdown, and people are taking it upon themselves to feed horses potatoes, bread, mints, vegetables and even meat.
"Items of food being fed by the public are highly unsuitable and can get stuck in the throat, interfere with medication, ferment in the intestines causing a build-up of gas, and some are straight-up poisonous.
"[Horses] have a very sensitive digestive system which has been unchanged by domestication, leaving them open to a variety of medical conditions.
"Two commonly associated with feeding include choking, where food substances get stuck and swell in the throat (horses can't be sick, therefore cannot displace anything stuck) and colic, which is pain within the abdominal or gastrointestinal tract. Both can be life-threatening.
Mr Cooper added that walkers should contact their local animal welfare agency if they are concerned about an animal in the countryside, rather than attempting to feed them.
