The Canberra owners of a thoroughbred filly shot dead at Burra are still trying to work out how they will tell their young children about what has happened to their beloved horse.
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Daniel Riley and Alex Creighton, business partners in Canberra building companies Eye Candy Kitchen Joinery and Eye Candy Building Innovations, were owners of the seven-month-old horse called Lolly.
"She was called that because she was such a sweet girl,'' Mr Riley said.
The horse was discovered shot on their NSW property at Burra, just south of Canberra, on Sunday afternoon.
"One of the neighbours was walking the dog and saw the horse lying down and the mother quite distraught standing over her,'' Mr Riley said.
Detective Ned Doubleday, a Monaro Police District rural crime investigator, said the filly was shot at close-range with what appeared to be a high-powered rifle.
Police believe the shooting was no accident.
"It's a horrible crime,'' Detective Doubleday said.
"We're unsure of a motive but it was definitely a deliberate act.''
Mr Riley said the filly had a strong bloodline. Its mother was Salagod and its father was Toorak Toff. The intention was always to race her and the financial loss, on top of the emotional distress, could be considerable. A sibling has recently sold for $50,000.
"It's anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000, it's untold,'' Mr Riley said.
"She was perfect.''
The children of both men had also become enamoured of the horse.
"It's a shock,'' Mr Riley said.
"We've both got young kids and somehow we've got to explain she's no longer here.''
Mr Riley was still astounded by the cruelty of the act.
"This is a broad daylight thing. To me, it's a heinous crime,'' he said.
"It's just disgusting a person it out there with a bloody gun shooting people's animals.''
Police are particularly keen to know if anyone saw any suspicious vehicles in the Burra area on Sunday.
If you have any information, contact Rural Crime Investigators detectives Archie French or Ned Doubleday at Cooma Police Station on 64520099 or drop in and see them.
You can also call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
