A HIGH number of horses have been found dumped across South Essex - prompting concerns from animal welfare charities.

Recent incidents include a foal's body being abandoned in Middlemead, West Hanningfield, in February and a pregnant mare callously dumped while she was giving birth in Orsett.

She died in labour on the side of the road.

Later the same month, a colt was found dumped by the side of the road in Lower Stock Road, West Hanningfield.

Three horses were found dumped in three days in February, with a dead horse left by the side of Dunton Road in Herongate, and another dead horse found that day in Hockley.

A third dead horse was then found by the side of Brentwood Road in Orsett two days later.

Although the increase in the number of horses being abandoned has been sudden, it has been an ongoing issue for many years, with a number of horses dumped on the sides of roads and in fields for many years.

Part of the problems are due to the horses either falling ill and owners being unable - or unwilling - to pay for veterinary fees.

Many rescue centres have reported that they are full and struggling to cope with the high number of horses being brought to them.

Last year, the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society, based in Basildon, had to stop accepting new horses as they were having issues looking after the 300 already on their books.

Sue Allery, chairman of trustees, said: "

A spokesman from the RSPCA added that it has received a lot of reports about animals being neglected, and that it always investigated.

However, it is only the police who can remove an animal - and only after a vet has said there is evidence of suffering.

He added: "We are very concerned that there have been so many equine incidents in this area and our inspectors have been working hard to rescue and help as many equines as they are able.

"Sadly this is an issue we see far too often.

"We are facing an equine crisis and spates of dead and dying horses left dumped during the winter months is not as unusual as you would hope.

"There is often a rise in these incidents from November to spring, due winter-related problems like the lack of grazing or redworm, all of which should be easily treatable.

"But instead of being given the care they need, horses are often neglected and then dumped.

"In 2016, we actually received over 72,000 calls nationally about horses to our cruelty and advice line, and took 1,336 horses into our care.

"The RSPCA believes the main two reasons for the ongoing horse crisis are the recession and overbreeding. Equally, horses can be very expensive to keep and we believe some people decide to callously abandon their poorly horses instead of pay for veterinary treatment.

"Owners who are struggling to care for their horses are urged to contact the RSPCA or other horse welfare charities for advice and assistance rather than dump their animals in a dying state."

Anyone with any information about who may be dumping and neglecting their horses to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, in complete confidence.