A horse used by disabled riders was spray painted by vandals overnight.

Woody, a horse at the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in Carshalton, had the word “Team” scrawled in silver paint across his neck and shoulders.

The incident occurred between 6pm Friday 20 and 12.10pm Saturday 21 of July.

Kate Gordon, senior instructor at the centre said five-year-old Woody was scrubbed down and had the paint removed on Saturday afternoon.

She said: “We believe that the process of him being sprayed may have traumatised him.

“Increased anxiety and stress in a horse can lead to colic and even death.

“However, by Monday he was fine and seems to have suffered no lasting ill effects.

“He’s a young horse and likes people - he strolls over to say ‘hello’ to people using the footpath near the field.”

Steve Axon, chairman of the trustees at the centre, described the incident as a despicable act. He said: “The horses we have are very trusting and essential to what we do - without them we can’t provide therapy for disabled riders.”

Woody has been at the centre since the beginning of the year when the 25th Purley Scouts raised the funds to buy him.

PC Gordon Mckinlay, of Carshalton South and Clockhouse Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said he wanted to catch the culprits who could be so nasty and cruel to an animal.

You can contact Sutton Police station on 101 or Carshalton South and Clockhouse Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 020 8721 2490. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.