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Horse killed in firework attack

Dean Kirby
1/11/2005

A HORSE has died and seven others were rescued from burning stables after a suspected firework attack on a stud farm.
Warrior the stallion suffered third degree burns in the blaze which is thought to have been started deliberately.

He had been rescued with seven other horses from the Coltsrock Stud Farm in Pimhole, Bury. But he had been trapped for longer than the others and the flames got to Warrior before the crews were able to get him out.

Warrior battled for life for two days, but vets had no choice but to put him down after he suffered kidney failure and his lungs filled with fluid. Police have launched an investigation into the attack.

Stud farm owners Stacey Roscow and Jennifer Rawlinson are counting the cost of the incident, which destroyed a hay barn, left two other buildings badly damaged and ruined all of their equipment.

Stacey said: "The people who did this are just mindless. They've put a defenceless animal in a lot of pain. I don't think they know what they have done.

"Warrior was worth £5,000 and would have been worth double that in 12 months time. Now we've lost him.

"We've worked really hard to set up this business over the past year and we've lost so much. It was derelict when we came and we were just getting on our feet before this happened."

She added: "I really think fireworks should be banned. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. We've had problems with fireworks around here for weeks. All our neighbours have been brilliant and the fire brigade have done an excellent job. But what happened was just senseless. It shouldn't be allowed to happen."

Fifteen firefighters were called to the stud farm, off School Street, at 11.45pm on Friday.

They forced open the doors of the stables and led the panicking horses, including Warrior, to a nearby field. They were fighting the flames for three hours and were called back on Saturday afternoon when hay in one of the buildings began to smoulder.

A group of youths is believed to have been seen playing with fireworks near the barn before the fire began.

The Manchester Evening News has campaigned for safer selling of fireworks in the run-up to bonfire night.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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