A man was arrested Monday afternoon after the CU Police Department received reports of someone on horseback on the Hill, apparently intoxicated.
Witness accounts say that Patrick Neal Schumacher, 45, of Colorado Springs, was seen hitting his horse around Broadway and Baseline Road. He was later arrested on animal cruelty charges. The horse had reared up on its hind legs, according to a CUPD news release.
Schumacher told police that he had been trying to hit a fly on his horse’s head.
According to the release, he later told police that he was traveling from Larkspur, Colo. to Bryce, Utah to go to his brother’s wedding after losing his driver’s license. Larkspur is about 60 miles from Boulder and about 600 miles from Bryce.
Police received the initial reports around 2:15 p.m. Monday and officers spotted the man and his horse, Dillon, on College Avenue and Broadway a short time later, where the horse was stepping into traffic.
“Schumacher failed roadside intoxication tests,” the news release stated. “A small black powder pistol and beer cans were found in his saddle bag.”
(Photo courtesy @LostOnTheHill)
He was also carrying a small dog in his backpack at the time of the arrest, his pug, Bufford.
Schumacher has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons, riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment.
Dillon and Bufford are being cared for by the Boulder Police Department Animal Control Unit, Boulder Space and Mountain Parks and Humane Society of Boulder.
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Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.
