Woman arrested for striking police horse with pole and nail attached

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In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a woman faces charges for striking a police horse with a flag pole with a nail attached during a demonstration on Saturday morning. Lisa Simon, 23, faces aggravated assault, illegally taunting a police animal, prohibited offensive weapons, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of administrative law.

According to Penn Live,  the incident unfolded on Saturday morning at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg during a demonstration of “March Against Sharia.” The protest had been scheduled to take place in other cities including New York and Dallas. During the rally, Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Mounted Patrol and the Harrisburg Police helped with crowd control. As a State Trooper and his equine partner, Sampson, moved among the crowd, Simon attacked the horse – hitting him in the side of the neck. Sampson suffered minor injuries, but was able to return to work.

Simon is reported to have resisted arrest. She was moved to the Dauphin County prison in lieu of $100,000 bail; her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6. As of Monday night, Simon was still in custody.

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(Submitted photo of woman arrested for striking police horse)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the disturbing story of a Queen’s woman throwing her German shepherd out of the car and the dog trying to get back in.

Charleston carriage horse Big John ‘stumbled and fell’

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On Wednesday, a Charleston, South Carolina carriage horse turned a corner onto Meeting Street and fell to the pavement as he was pulling a carriage with passengers. The official report from the City of Charleston’s Department of Livability and Tourism, says the horse “stumbled and fell” to the pavement.

“At approximately 323 Meeting Street the horse stumbled and fell to the pavement. A large strap from the harness was used to lift the horse so it could get its rear legs under its body and Big John stood up on all fours,” the report read.

According to Live5News, the report detailed how the Charleston Carriage Works driver called the company’s barn for help while passengers were safely escorted off of the carriage. Big John had fallen on his right side, and barn hands helped to release him from his harness and tack equipment. Carriage horses are trained to stay still until they are safely able to rise so as not to get entangled in the equipment.

Firefighters from the nearby Meeting Street Fire Station also helped lift the horse to free it from the entanglement, at which point the horse sat up on its rump. The entire incident lasted 11 minutes and the horse was walked back to the barn; high school students pushed the carriage back. It has been confirmed it was the horse’s first tour of the day.

“He wasn’t tired, didn’t collapse, wasn’t hot – simply tripped, which happens from time to time (to all of us),” Broderick Christoff, the company spokesperson reported.

The horse was examined by the vet and cleared to return to work although he did suffer some minor abrasions on his rear left hock and right front elbow which were both treated. A subsequent report stated the horse was given a “trot” test recorded on video, and he showed no signs of lameness.

Animal rights activists have continued to question what happened, with one woman stating had Big John just tripped, he would have immediately risen, but in this case she claimed he was down for a half-hour. Charleston has recently passed  new horse carriage heat rules requiring carriage horses be removed from service if temperatures exceed 95 degrees. On Wednesday, the temperatures were in the 80s.

On Facebook, the Charleston Animal Society posted a witness’ video documenting the horse’s ordeal.

 “It is time for an independent, scientific, peer-reviewed study to determine if Big John and other horses are truly working in a safe and humane environment. Charleston Animal Society, Pet Helpers and several other local and national animal welfare organizations want to see a study conducted.”

The video can be viewed here:

Wild horse attacked an alligator at Paynes Prairie

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It was an amazing sight as a woman stood in awe early Wednesday afternoon, as a wild horse attacked an alligator at Paynes Prairie State Park located near Gainesville, Florida. On the Facebook page of Krystal M. Berry, she stated she was “still shaking” after witnessing the horse attack the gator.

“Holy moly!….Only in Florida!That’s a cracker horse. They are the original descendants from the horses left here from the Spanish conquistadors. They know how to take care of themselves they have been running wild all these years. Amazing isn’t it,” stated viewer, Suzanne Macdonald, as she watched the video.

Krystal and her friends, the “ATEAM” just graduated from nursing school in Ocala and all went to the park to celebrate. So who won? It’s clear the gator didn’t stand a chance. That Florida cracker horse kicked the reptile’s tail – no doubt. Although the video clip is quite short, it starts with the horses peacefully grazing in the tall grasses of a nearby field, when one of the horses trots out to the alligator – who frankly was just lying peacefully in the clearing. Watch how the horse approaches – kicks out and the gator tries to bite back. The gator may have clipped the horse, but the stallion didn’t appear to be limping.  He seemed to have lifted his leg just in time and then returned to his herd. The alligator decided there was nothing to watch here – and sauntered away.

(Wild horse attacked an alligator photos and video via Krystal M. Berry Facebook)

Check out the video. It is quickly going viral.

 

Neglected Shetland pony’s hooves not trimmed for 10 years

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A neglected Shetland pony’s hooves had not been trimmed for 10 years. Hidden away in a shed where no one could see him, after a decade of neglect, he could barely walk. When rescued by the Animaux en Péril, the starving pony weighed 150 pounds; a healthy pony should weigh 450 pounds. Both the pony and a malnourished horse had been living in a makeshift tiny shelter where they stood on a two-foot heap of manure for the past few months. The pony’s hooves were so long they curled around at 540 degrees – rescuers had never encountered neglect like this in the past.

Animaux en Peril (Animals in Danger) operating in Belgium, took custody of the two animals when their owner decided to surrender them. Dubbed Poly and Everest, rescuers were shocked when  they first saw the animals and the horrible conditions they had been forced to live. On the organization’s Facebook page, advocates gasped at the photos of the pony on his arrival:

“We’ve seen our lot of neglected and overgrown hooves, sometimes with rotations of 180°, but the 540° (one and a half turns) spiral that we saw here was a shocking first in our 24 year career.”
As well as the deformed hooves,  bothPoly and Everest had been covered with lice and each registered a body index of a “1” out of “5.” Staff immediately trimmed and repaired Poly’s hooves, shampooed the duo and sheared them to get rid of any lice. Both welcomed the warm coats they were able to wear and their recovery has been remarkable, although “after” photos show Poly’s joints have been severely affected by the long-term negligence. Follow their rehabilitation on the organization’s Facebook.
Donations to help more animals like Poly and Everest can be made here. 
(Photos of pony’s hooves not trimmed for 10 years courtesy of Facebook’s Animaux en Peril)
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Ohio man accused of cutting off his horse’s leg

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The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a Fredericktown, Ohio man accused of cutting off one of his horse’s legs. According to Local12News, authorities are searching for Mark Hill, and although what happened at the farm continues to be under investigation, Sheriff John Hinton states one of Hill’s horses recently broke a leg. Instead of ordering a barn call for a veterinarian to come out to his farm to examine the horse, Hill has been accused of using a saw to amputate the horse’s leg.

A warrant for Hill’s arrest has been issued – citing a second degree misdemeanor charge for animal cruelty. Horses are not considered companion animals in Ohio and are labeled livestock. If found guilty, Hill could face a maximum of six-months in jail.

The Morrow County Humane Society were called out and humanely euthanized the horse. Anyone with information is asked to  call the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office at 419-946-4444. For updated information, follow the organization on their Facebook page.

(Photo of man accused of cutting off horse’s leg courtesy of Morrow County Sheriff’s Office)

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Read about a dog sacrificing his own life to save guests at a wedding.

 

 

Panic rescue of horse that fell six feet into underground vault

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The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to a report of a rider fallen from a horse on Sunday at the 5600 block of Arlington Avenue. The saddled horse fell about six feet into an underground vault. According to the organization’s Facebook page, when the first fire unit arrived on scene, they requested further assistance from the City of Riverside’s Heavy Animal Rescue Team (HART), which includes experienced personnel from the Riverside Police Department’s mounted unit.

Rescuers placed thick straps around the horse, and and as they waited for a crane to lift him out, the horse panicked and tried kicking his way out of the vault. Once sedated by a veterinarian, rescuers were carefully able to help him up to safety as firefighters and the horse’s owner encouraged him to climb out of the hole. The horse’s successful rescue efforts were described:

“A crane was requested to assist rescue personnel with extricating the horse once it was sedated by the Veterinarian. While firefighters were preparing the horse for extrication from the vault, the animal made several unsuccessful attempts to get out of the hole. Finally, the horse was able to climb out of the hole with assistance from firefighters and the animals owner.”

The horse’s injuries were assessed by the vet before it was released to its owner. The owner brought in a horse trailer to transport the animal to a personal veterinarian for further evaluation. This was one lucky horse – he only suffered lacerations on his legs that are expected to heal. The vault where he fell in had been covered by a metal grate and it appears it collapsed under the weight of the horse that was being walked on the sidewalk with another horse.

A temporary cover has since been placed over the open vault.

Pictures courtesy of City of Riverside Fire Department retired Captain Bob Markin. Video courtesy of Brandy Carlos

 

Check out the video:

Teen shoots horses for fun playing ‘American Sniper’ real life video game

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In Iron Mountain, Michigan, a 19-year-old man has been accused of shooting two horses, after admitting to authorities he had been playing the video game “American Sniper” before going outdoors to shoot the animals in a real life video game. According to the Iron Mountain Daily News, Luke Endjamin Wool, allegedly told authorities he shot a draft horse on February 24 and then shot and injured the second horse on March 16. The investigation from the March 16 incident tied the first horse’s death to Wool; that horse died as a result of severing a main artery after breaking its leg.

Wool told police he shot the second horse because it “laughed” at him and “draft horses are supposed to be in pairs.”

On Monday, Wool was arraigned in Iron County Trial Court. The owner of the horses, Chuck Battan stated the surviving horse had been in surgery to remove bullets from his flank quarter. The family have been horse owners for the past 42 years and have never had an incident of anyone shooting their animals. The 2,500-pound male horses performed in horse-pulling competitions and some farm work.

Wool lived rent free with his pastor and when they were out of town, Wool figured out how to get five guns and ammunition out of the safe.

If convicted on all counts, Wool faces the maximum of 18 years in prison for the discharge of a firearm in or at a building, a ten-year felony, and two counts of killing or torturing animals, each a four-year felony.  He is currently being held in jail pending a $10,000 bond.

(Police photos of Luke Wool allegedly dressed playing “American Sniper”)

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Wild horses gather to mourn the death of mare who died birthing her foal

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In an extremely sad yet heartwarming video, a herd of horses are shown gathering around a dead mare who died giving birth to a foal, as if both mourning her death and expressing their final respects.

On the Facebook page of the  Salt River Wild Horse Management Group,  the video shows separate bands of wild horses, along the Salt River in Arizona, lining up as they slowly walk by the body of a two-year-old dun mare referred to as Clydette. The mare died after her foal became stuck in the birth canal during delivery. The organization rushed their veterinarian out to the area to help, but by the time they arrived, Clydette had gone into septic shock and died – the foal also dying because she was just stuck too long.

As the veterinarian team moved away from Clydette’s breathless body, her band arrived and nuzzled her, after which the roan, her lead stallion, cried out for her very loudly. Shortly after that, they moved away from her body, but stayed close. Other bands heard and somehow knew exactly where the mare was and what had occurred:

“What happened next was amazing; the other bands stood in line taking turns saying their goodbyes. First one band, then another. Then the two lead stallions of those two bands got into a short power struggle. Then you can see how Clydette’s lead stallion comes running back one last time letting out a short scream in a last effort to protect her, or perhaps to tell everyone that she was his.”

“It takes a most highly intelligent species to understand and actually mourn death. We have seen bands mourn their losses before, but for other bands to come and mourn her death also was simply awe inspiring. These animals have evolved to have amazing survival skills and very close and protective family bonds. In this natural behavior, lies true scientific value.”

This video was taken after her own band had walked away, approximately 30 minutes after she died. Many thanks to the person who called in this emergency.

Rest in peace Clydette and little Tootie.

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is an Arizona based non profit Organization (501c3), set up to protect and preserve the Salt River Wild Horses. To donate, please click here.

(Photo and video of wild horses gather courtesy of Salt River Wild Horse Management)

Watch the video here. Draw your own conclusions as to the horses reactions.

Teen mom accused of animal cruelty after painting miniature pony

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Farrah Abraham, 25, of Teen Mom fame, has run into a ton of online media criticism from animal lovers this week, after posting a photo of her daughter’s miniature pony painted with pink and purple neon hearts on her body and her mane.

“That’s animal abuse she should be taken away from u!”, one person commented on Instagram while someone else added, “That poor horse, you’re a horrible selfish human being!”

And this was the general reaction to Abraham’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophia’s birthday party as the themes Beauty and the Beast and My Little Pony involved more than a bunch of little friends dressed up – runway style. Sure there was an amazing birthday cake, beauty treatments for the little girls and even Belle – who walked down the fake red carpet. As much as that might seem a bit extravagant, lavish birthday parties for children are rarely scoffed at – that is if it doesn’t include using an animal as a prop. In this case, it was Sophia’s miniature pony Starburst who the child received as a Christmas present.

According to InTouch, concerns just weren’t addressed for Abraham’s poor judgment as to using a living animal as an art easel, but the safety of the pony may have been even more important:

“Considering her age, she could have gotten paint in the pony’s eyes or ears or the pony could have ingested the paint/fumes,” one concerned commenter wrote. Another added, “Definite animal abuse. What is wrong with these people?”

Farrah became pregnant when she was 16; giving birth to Sophia when she was 17. Sophia’s father, Derek, was killed in a car crash eight months into Farrah’s pregnancy. As to the criticism, Abraham shrugged it off stating the paint was probably pet friendly and kept posting pictures of the birthday party – even with Starburst painted with pink and purple neon hearts on her coat and streaked through her mane. Did I mention the white pony also  wore pink leg warmers?

Photos of teen mom’ s painted pony via Instagram.

What do you think?

Video of miniature horse in highchair sparks animal cruelty outrage

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The video of a miniature horse eating in a high chair has sparked social media outrage with animal advocates; many viewers calling the action animal cruelty and abuse. The short 27-second video emerged online last week and quickly built up steam as viewers watched a miniature horse sitting in a high chair, making it look more like a human baby eating rather than a tiny horse.

According to the Daily Mail, animal advocates contend the animal, which appeared to be eating carrot pieces from a bowl, should not have been perched in the chair worrying about the consequences on the horse’s health and safety. The video is stated to have originated out of  a farm located in Saku, Japan, and later circulated on social media. Suetoshi Farm, which has posted videos of its miniature horse in the past, shared the clip on Instagram last week. Readers and viewers of the video were very outspoken – many overtly disturbed, after viewing the video:

“…. This is not funny. It breaks my heart. To people who find this amusing, be a bit smarter. This is animal cruelty. One of the most stupid things I’ve seen lately. Stop treating animals like human babies. Instead give them an appropriate animal-friendly living.”

Other viewers commented on the damage the position could do to a horse’s back, stomach and intestines.

So, then the question remains if the mini suffered from a condition called megaesophagus, a structural issue from a malformed esophagus making it hard for an animal to swallow. The malformation does appear in dogs and cats, and propping them upright in a high chair is a way to use gravity to help the animal swallow and prevent choking. And then a user, identified as Lizzi Moore corroborated the condition of the miniature horse. It is not known if the mini has megaesophagus, however as many people did emphasize – the mini didn’t seem to be in any kind of distress, and anyone who knows horses, know they don’t eat when they’re stressed.

What do you think?

Photos of miniature horse in high chair freezeshot from YouTube video.

Watch the video here: