Two families in North Carolina have been faced with a Christmas Eve tragedy after four of their miniature  show horses were found dead this morning at the farm where they were kept.

The horses were discovered by an 11 year old girl who had gone out to feed them.

According to WITN News, the girl and her mother say it "appears a pack of wild dogs, coyotes or wolves attacked the miniatures.
Two were found in a field while the others were discovered dead in a
nearby stable. Two other full size horses, also in the stable, were not
injured."

They say the horses were fine last night around 8:00 p.m.

The miniature horses were between 10 and 13 years old.