A MARE will need surgery after she was found with a one-inch long blackthorn in her eye on premises on the outskirts of Newport.

She was one of three horses found in appalling conditions by a Monmouth-based horse charity.

One of them, a thoroughbred, was found lying in a field of Ragwort.

It was obvious from the marks on the ground it had been struggling for some time and there was no option but to put it to sleep.

Staff at the Monmouth-based Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, together with Trading Standards officers, were alerted to the condition of the animals by a member of the public.

The emaciated mare and her foal, who were found in a shed, were handed to the society and are now receiving treatment at the newly-renamed MacGregor Centre at St Maughans, near Monmouth.

The society was told by its vet that the mare will have to have her damaged eye removed once she is strong enough to undergo surgery.

A spokeswoman for the society said: “They are now both out in the paddock enjoying life once again knowing that thanks to SWHP their future is assured.”

The next fundraising event for the society is a fun ride at Garnons, near Hereford, between 10am and 1pm on August 2. Admission for adults costs £15 with under 15's £10, all children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

For details email swhp@swhp.co.uk