by Jamie Bullen

A horse dropped dead less than 24 hours after an RSPCA inspector described it as “subdued”, it has emerged.

The five-month-old foal died in a field off Ratling Road, Aylesham, and was discovered by the same man who had reported fears about its health the day before.

He said he called the RSPCA after describing the foal as “shabby”, claiming there had been long-standing concerns from locals about the horse’s condition.

Accompanied by a plain clothes police officer the inspector visited the field and tried to contact the horse’s owners to discuss the animal’s condition.

The concerned man, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m furious. I couldn’t believe it when they said it was subdued.

“It wasn’t subdued, it was dying. It doesn’t take Poirot to know what was happening.

“If it was a fluffy cat it would be a different story.

"it wasn’t subdued, it was dying. it doesn’t take poirot to know what was happening" – animal carer

“I spent an hour on the phone trying to get through to the RSPCA national centre and I couldn’t – it was useless.

“If people knew what their money was going towards they would think again. I wouldn’t give them two bob.”

RSPCA spokesman Helen Coen said attempts were made to meet the foal’s owners but it died before they were due to do so.

She said: “An inspector was called.... after a member of public reported the foal had foam around his mouth.

“She had a look. The horse was walking around and was a bit subdued but there was no other symptoms.

“A decision was taken that there was no need for veterinary treatment.

“We got in touch with the owners of the horse and arranged to meet with them on Thursday but unfortunately the horse had died.”

The spokesman confirmed the RSPCA would not be investigating the foal’s death.