A CHAMPION showjumping horse has been shot in the neck by gun-wielding thugs.
Sharif, a 23-year-old gelding, escaped with his life after a pellet was fired at his neck, missing a main artery by inches.
Police, vets and animal welfare groups have condemned the shooting and branded the attack as "cowardly" and "disgusting".
Sharif was grazing in a field at Whitehill Farm Mains, near Musselburgh, when the airgun attack took place last Friday morning.
Owner Linda Pantellerisco, 44, said: "It's really sickening that somebody could target an innocent animal like this."
Sharif, a former two-time novice showjumping champion, was treated by vets on site and is expected to make a full recovery.
Tom Brown, of Links Vet Group who treated the horse, said: "This horse was very lucky. Had it struck less than two inches on either side it could have punctured the main neck artery and we would have had a dead horse on our hands within minutes."
Miss Pantellerisco has owned the horse for almost 20 years. Another of her geldings was close by but was uninjured in the attack.
A police spokeswoman said: "Enquiries are continuing, and we would appeal for anyone with any information to come forward."
The full article contains 214 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
