The RSPCA is appealing for help to track down a callous owner who dumped a dying pony.

Although the animal was discovered alive in the Maidstone countryside, rescuers were unable to save it.

The young piebald cob was wearing a brown head collar when a dog-walker stumbled upon it on a footpath off Ringlestone Road.

RSPCA Inspector Kirsten Ormerod said: “Seeing this poor pony collapsed like this was absolutely heart-breaking.

"Everyone at the location was doing all they could to get him back on his feet but he was just too exhausted and sick to find the strength to fight any more."

She added: “I was willing him to make it. But sadly he just wasn’t strong enough to pull through.

"All I can think is that at least he spent his last night in a warm stable surrounded by love."

The pony was found at 8am on Tuesday, February 4.

Insp Ormerod said: "This horse would not have been strong enough to have made it to this location on his own. He would have been transported there.

"We can see evidence of where the gate to the footpath had been forced by some type of vehicle.

"We are appealing to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area during the morning of February 4 or the night before."

She added: "I would urge anyone who recognises this pony, knows who the owner is, or saw anything suspicious in the area leading up to when he was found to call me on the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018."

'We are appealing to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area'

A vet was called and gave the abandoned pony painkillers to try to get it to stand up. But it remained collapsed and was unable to use it back legs.

Rescuers managed to push it into a horse box for further treatment but because it was in such a neglected condition a vet put it to sleep to prevent further suffering.

The pony had not been micro-chipped but it had a blue eye.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 7.10am on February 4 to reports of a horse in poor condition by the side of Hollingbourne Road, Maidstone. An officer attended along with an officer from the RSPCA."

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals call the charity's donation line on 0300 123 8181.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone