Horses Stabbed While Attending Barrel Racing Event In Las Vegas

On Saturday, May 30, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a horse being stabbed in the equestrian barns at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, where animals were being housed for the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Supershow.

When officers arrived, they found three horses that had sustained injuries caused by a “sharp object,” according to a police press release. An investigation later identified a teenage girl as a suspect; authorities believe she may have used a knife to inflict multiple wounds on the animals.

Teenage Suspect Taken Into Custody

The unnamed teenage female was taken into custody at a nearby hotel and later booked into the Clark County Juvenile Hall, authorities said.

She is facing 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming, or torturing an animal, along with three felony counts of malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, according to police.

Police said the injuries to the horses were not life-threatening but that they were expected to prevent the horses from partaking in the competition.

Owners Provide Updates On The Injured Horses

Arielle Phillips, owner of one of the injured horses, shared her account of the incident in a post to social media. Phillips says cameras captured the individual entering her horse, Detail’s, stall.

On Sunday, Arielle provided an update on Detail, sharing photos showing injuries sustained in the attack. She later posted the horse “hugging” her, saying she was “slowly coming back.”

Hailey Krahenbuhl, the owner of Sully, initially wrote that the horse was “stabbed multiple times.” She later posted a GoFundMe in support of the horses and their owners. You can find out more details and learn how you can help support them below.

The third horse, Rocket, was stabbed three times but is also expected to make a full recovery. Rocket’s owner posted an updated on Sunday (May 31) of the horse walking around his neighborhood.