A horse in a Gravesend field died more than seven hours after animal welfare experts were first alerted, a woman claims.

Eva Hartel, 32, said she made four telephone calls to the RSPCA reporting the suffering animal’s plight but by the time an officer arrived, the horse had died.

She is now concerned about other animals in the field off Mark Lane.

She said: “The horse was in a terrible state and could barely stand. It had no skin on its head and legs, just bloody wounds.

“He had to be in terrible pain. I called the RSPCA to ask for help and they said someone would be dispatched immediately.”

She claims it was only after four calls and when she said she was going to post a video clip on YouTube that an officer called her back.

However, when Mrs Hartel returned herself that evening she discovered the horse was near death.

“He was lying on the floor and could barely lift his head,” she said. “I was getting very upset because this horse was dying.

“It lifted its head and then just dropped it.”

It is not known what caused the animal’s death or what happened to the carcass.

Mrs Hartel, who lives in Gravesend, said it was one of up to eight horses she regularly saw while walking her dogs.

It was during a visit with her four-year-old son on June 17 that she noticed the horse’s poor state. She said she first called the charity just after noon.

“My son had given all the horses names and this one he called Ginger.

“He used to look chubby and strong and it was very traumatic for my son to see him like this.

“Another horse seems to be in a similar condition.

“The field is poorly fenced and one horse is always getting out. They have an old horsebox for shelter but never use it and there is an old bathtub but there is never any clean water, they are just drinking from a dirty stream.”

An RSPCA spokesman confirmed they had received a call from Mrs Hartel and the information was passed on to an animal collection officer.

They said they tried to contact Mrs Hartel but did not get a response. The next logged update from the officer reported that the horse had died.

The spokeswoman added: “We would always try to get out to any suffering horse as soon as we possibly can. Our officers are so busy dealing with incidents of cruelty and have to try and get to every animal, which is often sadly not possible.

“We would never deliberately ignore an animal in need - it may just be that the local officer is dealing with another suffering animal.

“The horse was in a terrible state and could barely stand. It had no skin on its head and legs, just bloody wounds" - Eva Hartel

“We go out to sick and injured horses on a daily basis.

“The other horses on the site were looked at by the RSPCA and we are continuing to monitor them.”

No action is being taken against the owner.

The horse’s death comes just days after an emaciated and neglected pony was dumped by the side of Cobhambury Road, Cobham.

It had a rope and clip wrapped round its head and was laid on the gravel.

The RSPCA continues to investigate and has appealed for help in tracing the owner. It can be contacted on 0300 123 8018 and calls can be dealt with in confidence.

The owner of the latest incident was not available for a comment.