Gentry Man Jailed In Horse Abuse Case

GENTRY, Ark. -- A local man is in jail after he was implicated in a case of animal abuse.

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Gentry Man Jailed In Horse Abuse Case

The animal was found on the side of the road in Gentry in Benton County.

Police said they have never seen this type of cruelty to a horse.

The man who was arrested allegedly tied the horse to the back of his truck and took off.

He said he was teaching the horse to lead, but later he admitted the horse tried to bite his children.

One woman witnessed the alleged abuse and police say she may have saved the horse's life.

"When I seen it, I was in shock," said witness Lisa Foreman.

Police said the man was driving at least 40 mph down a country road.

"The horse was running to keep up because he was going so fast," said Foreman.

She said the horse was covered in sweat and looked like it was about to collapse. She had no idea how long the horse had been tied to the moving truck, but knew the horse was in trouble.

"When it hit the dirt road, I noticed blood on the road and I knew the horse was hurt," said Foreman.

She immediately called the police.

Authorities arrested the owner of the horse, Trevor McKinley, and charged him with animal cruelty.

Foreman said she doesn't know if the horse will live, but hopes for the best.

Right now the horse in at the Siloam Springs Veterinary Clinic.

Doctors said the horse has only a small chance of surviving.

McKinley is being held at the Benton County Jail. He faces a misdemeanor charge for cruelty to an animal.