NORWICH – The early morning quiet of a pasture along Manley Road in the Town of Norwich was broken by the sound of gunfire Monday after a figure in a passing car leaned out the window and shot a pure white Arabian mare as it grazed 60 feet from the roadway.

Dr. Nick DeRensis, who has operated his local dentistry practice in Chenango County for the last three decades, ran out from his barn and discovered his family’s horse, 27-year-old Minute, bleeding from the top area of her left shoulder.

“At about 9:20 a.m. I went to brush her and went into the barn. I heard a very loud gunshot; it was loud because the shot was coming in our direction,” said DeRensis.

DeRensis was inside the building less than 100 feet from the field just outside of the barn where the mare was shot.

DeRensis saw the culprit’s vehicle speeding away down Manley Road, west toward County Route 10A within seconds of the shot being fired. He described the vehicle as a 1980s or 90s model dark blue car.

The family is offering an undisclosed cash reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator.