Cumberland County horse abuse scandal: Man, woman accused of dragging foal with car appear in court
Two people accused of dragging a young horse with a vehicle appeared in court on Friday.
Austin Wayne Simpson, 25, of Hope Mills, is charged with cruelty to animals and felony conspiracy. Kylie Lenore Parker, 24, of Fayetteville, is charged with cruelty to animals and felony conspiracy.
On Sept. 12, Cumberland County detectives began investigating a case regarding animal cruelty that occurred at Witts End Quarter Horses in Fayetteville.
Parker owns the business, and Simpson is an employee.
In August, Cumberland County Animal Services removed two adult horses and five foals from Witts End Quarter Horses.
Video shared with WRAL News shows a young horse being sprayed in the face and other places while it is on the ground. Many horse owners on social media say spraying a horse is equivalent to water boarding.
A different part of the same video shows the horse falling to the ground.
“Unfortunately, what we're seeing on the video [is] an attempt at training a horse that was done in a very harsh and damaging way,” said Cumberland County Animal Services Director Elaine Smith.
Other videos show a horse being dragged by a four-wheeler and a young horse flailing around while on the ground.
Smith said the seven horses removed were at highest risk of injury.
According to court papers, a foal named Faith had lacerations and abrasions under both ears and under the muzzle that are were caused by excessive pressure, pushing or pulling.
"She has injuries to one of her front legs,” Smith said. “A muscle tear and there's some permanent damage that's documented has far as the bone and the soft tissue of that leg."
Authorities say those injuries are what make this a felony animal cruelty case.
Simpson and Parker had no comment about the case as they left court. They have both hired attorneys. They are due to make their next court appearance on Oct. 18.
