Stolen disabled foal found dead at Victorian racing stable

A family have found their six-week-old foal “Holly” dead after it was stolen from their racing stable.

Police confirmed the foal’s body was located at the McCormick’s Road property in Carrum Downs this morning.

Yesterday horse trainer Nathan McPherson told 9News he had been looking after Holly around the clock since her birth.

“It’s just unconditional love you know,” Mr McPherson said.

Mr McPherson said he been carrying Holly to feed from her mother after a tendon issue left her unable to walk.

He designed leg splints for the foal with the help of a vet so she could overcome her disability.

“He's been sleeping in the paddock, literally sleeping in the paddock, with her for the past six weeks, feeding her every hour,” Mr McPherson’s sister, Bianca Wills, said.

On Monday Mr McPherson went back to work to help cover the vet fees, only to find, on his return, his much loved foal had vanished and her leg splints had been cut off.

“I didn't hear or see from her and as I started to walk through the paddock, noticed her bandages and splints and bits of pipe made up for her braces were scattered all through the paddock,” he said.

“Probably within 15 minutes we had eight people here, we did a line search of the whole 20 acres and she was definitely nowhere to be seen.”

Police from Frankston Crime Investigation Unit continue to probe the incident.

Holly was the first foal of former racehorse Zagenza who won $22,000 in her 11-race career.