HUNDREDS of people took to social media this week to express their anger after a young colt became the latest equine welfare victim.

Images of the skewbald colt lying on the ground in a pitiful state, unable to get up provoked an outpouring on Facebook with some calling for those responsible to be jailed for cruelty.

The Irish Horse Welfare Trust’s welfare officer received a call about an abandoned colt in the Wicklow area last weekend. When the welfare officer arrived at the scene, she found a young colt in a very distressed state, too weak to stand. It’s understood the animal had been down for a number of days.

A veterinary surgeon was called and the foal down on humane grounds.

An IHWT spokesperson said: “We continue to deal with a large number of calls relating to stray and abandoned equines. Sadly we were too late to do anything to help this colt.”

Minister Simon Coveney recently issued a very blunt message on welfare, saying that the full weight of the updated Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 would be brought to bear on anyone found responsible for equine neglect or cruelty.