NORWICH – The early morning quiet of a pasture along Manley Road in the Town of Norwich was broken by the sound of gunfire Monday after a figure in a passing car leaned out the window and shot a pure white Arabian mare as it grazed 60 feet from the roadway.
Dr. Nick DeRensis, who has operated his local dentistry practice in Chenango County for the last three decades, ran out from his barn and discovered his family’s horse, 27-year-old Minute, bleeding from the top area of her left shoulder.
“At about 9:20 a.m. I went to brush her and went into the barn. I heard a very loud gunshot; it was loud because the shot was coming in our direction,” said DeRensis.
DeRensis was inside the building less than 100 feet from the field just outside of the barn where the mare was shot.
DeRensis saw the culprit’s vehicle speeding away down Manley Road, west toward County Route 10A within seconds of the shot being fired. He described the vehicle as a 1980s or 90s model dark blue car.
The family is offering an undisclosed cash reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator.
Chenango County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said deputies searched the area for the suspect’s vehicle but were unable to locate it. The office is now investigating the incident that appears to have no clear motive.
“It’s possible that (the horse) may have been mistaken as a deer. We can’t rule it out, but I don’t know how likely that is given the circumstances. It appears to be deliberate,” said the detective.
“You can’t tell me it looks like a deer. She’s completely snow white,” said DeRensis. He believes it is more likely that the culprits were simply joy riding through the area and couldn’t resist a cruel target of opportunity.
“That horse has been in that pasture for 20 years. I have no idea why anyone would want to do something like this,” He added.
Following the shooting, the mare was treated by a number of local veterinarians and equestrian specialists paid for by the family. The bullet shattered after entering the horse’s shoulder and its fragments traveled internally parallel to the animal’s spinal column, making them impossible to remove.
Medical crews cleaned the wound and administered powerful anti-infection drugs, but the final prognosis is unclear.
If a serious infection sets in, DeRensis said it was likely that the seasoned horse would be able to survive. The wound is currently swollen, but appeared clear of any major problems Friday morning.
It is not clear what kind of firearm was used in the incident, but DeRensis said the wound appeared to be caused by a low-calibler pistol or rifle.
Cobb said the culprits in the shooting face a number of charges if arrested that included shooting too close to a public roadway and animal cruelty.
Anyone with information in the case should contact the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office at 334-2000, extension 1. All calls will be kept confidential.