A WOMAN has spoken of her devastation after her horse was stolen from a Clayton-le-Dale field.

An investigation has been launched after Jasmine, a 17-year-old Anglo Arab horse, was taken from the Longsight Road site, where owner Jenny Groom was grazing some of her much-loved animals. The 15.1 hand mare was in the field with three other horses, when she was snatched.

But because another of the horses had escaped into another field during the theft, Jenny said the lady who was looking after them just thought Jasmine had been taken to another site.

It was not until two weeks later, on Sunday, that it was found she was missing.

Jenny, 30, who has 25 horses mostly stabled at White Coppice Farm, in Chorley, said: “We think she was taken in the night, possibly by someone who knows the area, as you cannot see them off the road. They are behind a house.

“Jasmine is really friendly.

“I have a two-year-old boy William and she is really good with him.

“I have had her for 17 years, since she was a foal, and she is a really lovely family pet. We just really want her back.”

Jasmine has a scar on her chest, and another on her left hind leg. She is also DNA tagged. Jenny, who lives in Oldham, said: “I would really encourage people to contact the police if anybody has seen anything, or if anybody has a horse they have gained over the last couple of weeks.

“We just really want to track her down.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We are treating this as a theft and it is something we are looking into.”

Anybody with any information about the missing horse can contact police on 101, or the Crimestoppers hotline, anonymously, on 0800 555 111