It was two children's Shetland ponies that were shot when they were grazing in a meadow together with other horses, reports Länstidningen Södertälje.
According to the newspaper, the horse owners were in the meadow, taking in horses and evening feeding others, when they heard loud bangs. They were then informed by the farm owner that the hunters would be located on a meadow a few kilometers further away.
The two ponies were found severely injured in the meadow and had to be put down on the spot, reports LT.
I'm both sad, angry, and resigned, it's a mix. It doesn't feel good on any level, says Aileen Köpper, the horses' owner.
"Very great concern"
One of the horses that was shot was named Bubbe. It was son William's horse.
It doesn't feel good at all, he says to the newspaper.
When we were out in one of the meadows, we heard a loud bang, and then another bang. It was close, says Aileen Köpper, who then called the farm owner to ask if there were hunters out.
Among the horse owners in the stable, there is now great concern. It was lit up in the stable when the incident occurred, one of the ponies was found shot next to a stable and there were several horses in the meadow that the hunter should have noticed, according to Aileen Köpper.
It's terrible what has happened. We have 25 horses here on pasture in different meadows and today we all naturally feel a very great concern, she says to the newspaper Ridsport.
Hunting wild boar
The hunter was out hunting wild boar when he accidentally shot the horses. The police were informed of the incident at 20 o'clock on Friday. According to the police, it was the hunter himself who alerted them.
It's bloody hell, says the hunter in a comment to SVT Nyheter Stockholm.
They moved and looked just like a flock of pigs.
The incident is classified as hunting crime and endangering others, since several people were in the vicinity.
The hunter is suspected, says Anders Bryngelsson at the police.
No one has been arrested, however.
Strict regulations
No plaintiff or witness interrogations had been held by Saturday afternoon. It is unclear whether the suspected hunter has been heard.
Safety regulations surrounding hunting are often strict to prevent accidents, according to lawyer Frida Treschow, specialist in horse law.
"It's a tragic event that reminds us of the importance of following safety regulations during hunting. It's crucial that we review and possibly tighten the rules to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future," she writes in an email to TT.
