Vandals pouring gas in drinking bowl for horses: « I knew immediately that it was wrong » (Gingelom)
Gunther Cranix and Marc Houbrechts from Gingelom. – © Jozef Croughs
Horse lovers Gunther Cranix and Marc Houbrechts made a disturbing discovery on 1 May in the morning. In their daily control of the horse meadow, they saw a strange oily layer on the water in the drinking bowl. It soon became clear that it was about gas.
« When I put my finger in the water and smelled it, I immediately knew it was wrong, » says Gunther Cranix. The water bowl, which is more than thirty meters in the meadow and is closed with a fence, turned out to be deliberately polluted. « Someone probably penetrated through the back of the meadow. »
The local police made findings on 1 May and set an official report. Two pregnant mares, a young foal and another stallion and a gelding are staying in the meadow. « Fortunately, they did not drink off the water. That could have ended fatally, » says Cranix relieved, but still visibly excited.
Revenge?
According to the owners, it seems that the act may have been committed from revenge or jealousy. Since the discovery, they have made several visits a day to the meadow to check if there was a stray.
As a preventive measure, surveillance cameras are now being installed. In addition, Cranix and Houbrechts call on possible witnesses to report. « Anyone who has seen suspicious persons or vehicles near De Weide around the weekend of 1 May ask you to contact the police urgently. »
The case is being investigated further.
