A horse trainer in Florida has been arrested after authorities say a video showed him kicking and punching a horse during a training session.
Deputies arrested Benito “Benny” Cotto Colon, 34, on an animal cruelty charge after the horse’s owner reported the incident and provided video evidence. According to authorities, the footage shows the horse in visible distress while being handled by the trainer.
The owner told deputies that Cotto Colon kicked and punched the horse and “violently pulled the bit,” a piece of equipment placed in a horse’s mouth to help control it. Investigators say the video appeared to support those claims.
After the arrest, Cotto Colon posted on Facebook acknowledging that he was the trainer shown in the video. In the post, he said he did not know he was being recorded at the time.
Authorities have not released additional details about the condition of the horse or how long the incident lasted. The investigation remains ongoing.
Cotto Colon was taken into custody and charged with animal cruelty. Court records will determine what happens next in the case.
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