Kaitangata residents came across a dead wild horse in the back of the Kaitangata hills while checking up on the herd of under 25 which roamed around there.
The horse appeared to have been shot to death.
Word spread quickly to the horse community, and when Kaitangata residents Taylah Green and Kayla Ross went riding in the area, they discovered a second dead horse, which had had its back straps removed.
The carcasses "looked about a week old", she said.
"The one which had the back straps taken out actually had a 6-month-old foal, so now it is an orphan hanging around the remaining herd."
The wild horses in Kaitangata were often watched over by community carers, but are not owned by anyone.
Ms Ross said taking out specific parts of the animal tended to be an indication of hunters coming in to kill them.
"It’s odd to see the back straps taken out in a horse, but it means they would not want the entire animal and would be just taking the loin as it is the ‘best part’ of the animal for feeding their dogs or whatever they do with it."
Ms Green and Ms Ross said they had been talking to others in the community who were "outraged" as wild horse numbers were already below 25, thanks to a muster last year.
"Recently, the section where the wild horses have been roaming has been bought by forestry, and while they try to get trees in there the horses can nip and take off the tops of the small trees coming in," Ms Green said.
"The forestry people have an agreement with the wild horse community that the horses can be in the area, so long as the numbers stay under 25 horses.
"There was a muster last year where horses were taken away to places like rodeos and more so they aren’t culled, so any loss of the horses at the moment is a massive loss for the community."
"It’s hard to make some sort of a stand because when we speak up about the animal treatment, we are scrutinised.
"It’s absolutely upsetting to see, especially because their bodies were just left there like nothing.
"Something needs to be done."
Police had been contacted for comment but said the incident had not yet been reported.
