A DeKalb County, Alabama woman reportedly dragged a horse behind an ATV for almost a half-mile this month authorities say – leaving the animal with visible injuries. The 39-year-old woman, who was charged with a misdemeanor, was arrested August 14th.
According to court documents a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a home on County Road 391 on August 5th. Geraldine police also responded. Officers found a female horse with visible injuries to its left side, favoring the right rear hoof. There was also blood on the roadway in front of the residence, according to an incident report, including one large area.
A veterinary technician examining the horse stated in a report that it had a large part of both rear hooves missing, and it had injuries to all four feet, while the “back of the foot was worn off past the hairline as the skin and hair was rolled up on the back of the hoof.” Those injuries could not happen during normal walking or riding, even on asphalt, according to the technician.
Other injuries included major abrasions – and also bruising on the left shoulder, left front leg, both left and right jaw near the throat, abrasions underneath the chin on both sides of the head behind the ears – “consistent with where a halter would pull on her head.” A woman who arrived on an ATV stated that the horse, named “Whiskey Glasses,” belonged to her. She asked how much the care given to the horse would cost her.
She also gave several “confusing and contradictive” statements, variously telling authorities she had not dragged the horse, but that it got “road rash” from falling when its legs gave out, and also saying she had been trying to teach the horse to ride and leading her with the ATV. According to an incident report, a trail of blood stretching about four-tenths of a mile led back to the horse.
The veterinary technician offered to buy the horse on the spot – for $200 – due to her “reluctance to have the horse treated.” The woman accepted the offer – and the horse was transported to Fort Payne, according to documents.
She has been released from the DeKalb County Jail on a $3,500 bond.