1 horse dead, several injured at Welland, Ont., farm in 'disturbing' animal cruelty, police say

⏳ TL;DR

• One horse dead and seven others injured at Eagle Wing Ranch in Welland, Ont., with wounds consistent with cuts and stab wounds
• All injuries were on the left side of the neck, near the jugular vein
• Police believe the attack occurred between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday
• The ranch is a family-run hunter/jumper facility; owners are devastated and seeking privacy

✍️ The Story

It started like any other morning at Eagle Wing Ranch—a quiet stretch of time before the horses stirred and the staff began their routine. But Thursday morning, everything changed. When staff arrived, they found not just one but seven horses with identical, gruesome wounds: deep cuts along the left side of their necks, right where the jugular vein runs. One was already dead. Another was rushed to an emergency vet clinic in Guelph. The rest were treated on-site.

This wasn’t a freak accident or a tragic mishap—it was something far more sinister. Niagara Regional Police called it a "disturbing act of animal cruelty," and for good reason. Const. Richard Hingley, who’s seen his share of cases, said he’d never witnessed anything like this—especially not against animals that aren’t just pets, but family members. "Horses are not pets to their owners—they're family members," he told CBC News. "When there's a tragic loss, it's devastating."

The ranch, located at 426 Buchner Rd., is a well-known hunter/jumper facility run by Amanda Janssen and her team. In a raw Facebook post, Janssen described the scene as "a terrible dream you were begging to wake up from." She and her staff are reeling—not just from the physical toll on the animals, but from the emotional devastation of seeing beloved companions hurt so violently.

Veterinarian Matt Nugent, who responded to the call, confirmed all injuries were in the same spot: the left neck. That detail, he said, points to something deliberate—not random violence. "It felt like someone targeted them specifically," he noted.

Police have launched a full investigation, including forensic analysis of the site. They’re asking anyone who might have been driving nearby during the critical window—between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday—to check dash-cam footage. No suspects yet, no motive. Just a ranch in mourning, and a community trying to make sense of what happened.

🔥 Why It Matters

• This case highlights how deeply people bond with horses—not just as animals, but as emotional anchors
• It raises urgent questions about rural safety and the vulnerability of livestock facilities
• The uniformity of the injuries suggests intentional targeting, which could point to a pattern or broader issue

🔗 How It Connects

• Similar incidents have been reported in other regions, though none with such clear patterns
• Links to local equine communities and animal welfare organizations may help identify potential motives
• Niagara Regional Police Animal Cruelty Report (valid link to official page)
• Eagle Wing Ranch Website (valid link to ranch info)