A man was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of stabbing Star the miniature horse.
Star's injuries were discovered on February 18 after a man walking past his Waitati paddock heard distressed noises.
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He found a trail of blood leading down the road, which led him to Star, who had been untethered and stabbed 41 times.
The horse was rushed to Otago Equine Hospital in Mosgiel and underwent a five-hour operation, but died from his injuries.
Vet Peter Gillespie said he had never seen anything like it.
"They'd been inflicted by a knife in what would only be described as a frenzied attack on a defenceless animal.
"I've been in practice for 39 years and I've never seen anything like this."
Police said members of the public helped with the investigation into the attack.
The 49-year-old suspect has been charged with cruelty to an animal and will appear in Dunedin District Court later in June.
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