The police are now asking the public for help with observations from the area in connection with the incident.

"What we do know is that the horse was shot in a pasture at Hageby riding club sometime between 2pm and 3pm on Monday," Emilia Lindbäck, preliminary investigator at the police, told the newspaper.

Hageby riding club chairman Jenny Westberg is shocked.

- It feels awful. When Bella was shot we carried out riding camp, there were many children in the area. The whole thing is incomprehensible, she tells the NT.