This is second hand...

A cartoon where a group of horses is afraid of being abducted. Each night some are taken and forced to work on a project - which has something to do with a bell or clock or something of the sort. They can talk, but they are animated in a realistic manner. Whenever a horse went missing there was the ringing of a bell (perhaps at midnight?). Can't remember if there were any people in it. There was a happy ending. It scared a child, but I think it probably was made for kids. It was watched on TV in the early 90's, but could have been from anytime earlier, and not necessarily made as a TV 'cartoon'.

I've searched and searched to no avail. Now the person could be remembering some of the details incorrectly, so even something similar might be it.[marvin]