A halter reportedly left on a horse for about eight months that had embedded itself in a horse's muzzle was cut from the horse's muzzle head by a local veterinarian in Layton, Utah, this past Tuesday.
Neglected horse recuperating
An embedded halter that had been left on a horse for about eight months was successfully removed in Layton, Utah, by a local veterinarian.
"We gave him a heavy sedation along with some pain relief and then we just cut the halter off and had to pull it out of the flesh wounds," said David Hill of the Kayscreek Equine Clinic.
Hill said the halter was touching the horse's bone and minor surgery was peformed underneath his chin because the skin had actually grown through the halter to where it held the halter onto his head.
Hill said he has known the horse's owner for several years and he is a responsible owner. "He just didn't pay attention to the horse this winter. I don't think he was the one that was actually feeding," Hill said.
Hill sid someone other than the owner was feeding the horse and possibly didn't see the halter because the horse is quick to run away.
Davis County Animal Services Director Clint Thacker filed a criminal citation against the owner for negligence and for pain and suffering.
Davis County Animal Control and other officials say they're withholding the name of the horse's owner to protect him or her from public retaliation.
Hill says the horse is on the path to a full recovery.