Following fatal attacks on broodmares: Paul Schockemöhle's Lewitz Stud is offering a 10,000-euro reward for information
Lewitz Stud Farm: Pregnant broodmares killed while grazing; Schockemöhle offers a reward
from Jan Tönjes 
Breeding mares that graze in the pasture day and night stay healthy, but they live in danger because it is difficult to protect them from attacks. Terrible scenes must have unfolded in recent weeks on the pastures of the Lewitz Stud near Neustadt-Glewe in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). Several broodmares—most of them pregnant—were attacked. Three mares did not survive the attacks. The Schwerin Criminal Investigation Department and the public prosecutor’s office are investigating. Among others, employees of Germany’s largest horse breeding operation are being questioned.
First Dead Breeding Mare
Found
as Early as September
In
mid-September, a dead mare was found for the first time in one of the pastures. She had internal injuries in her abdomen. About ten days later, another mare was discovered, also with external and internal injuries. The horse was still alive but later died from the injuries. Another attack followed on October 11; this animal did not survive either.
A total of six mares were injured, and three of them died. According to police, most of the horses were pregnant broodmares. Their value is estimated at several tens of thousands of euros. Police stated that, according to the investigation, the attacks mostly occurred on weekends.
10.
: 10,000-Euro Reward and Call for Witnesses
The Lewitz Stud Farm, where Paul Schockemöhle has kept his herd of broodmares since the 1990s, has offered a 10,000-euro reward for information leading to the apprehension of the perpetrator(s). The stud farm also posted an appeal for witnesses on Instagram, written in English. The post states that the loss of the horses and the circumstances of their deaths have “deeply shaken” the team. The police have been investigating for some time. Now they are hoping for tips from the public.
Please contact the Schwerin Police at
. The public prosecutor’s office and the Schwerin Criminal Investigation Division are investigating suspected violations of the Animal Welfare Act and property damage. Anyone who has noticed anything unusual in the past few weeks in the pastures around the stud farm is asked to contact the Schwerin Police at 0385/51804801. Tips can also be submitted to any police station, including via the online police station.
