Freeman A. Yoder, 38, was charged with the class A misdemeanor after he allegedly tied a draft horse to a truck in April and drove faster and faster until the animal fell at the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona. He did this several times, according to charging documents.
After hearing testimony during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, 4th District Judge Jennifer Brown ruled there was probable cause for Yoder to stand trial on the charge, according to Juab County Attorney Jared Eldridge.
Yoder is accused of dragging the horse on the ground by its head and neck. After pulling the horse the first time, he allegedly stopped the truck and got the horse back on its feet, then drove some more. The horse fell again and hit its head on the back the truck, denting the vehicle, the charging document alleges.
Once again, Yoder allegedly got the horse up and drove until it fell and was dragged along the ground. He eventually stopped and tried to force the animal to stand but was unsuccessful, the charging document says.
The horse was taken to a veterinarian after the incident and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the Juab County Sheriff's Office.
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| Vet Tech student, Nicole Mellor, with Champion Percheron and Trainer, Freeman Yoder |
Yoder was immediately fired from Young Living Farm, the company has said in a statement.
The sheriff's office says guests had taken video recordings of part of the incident, which the farm manager turned over to investigators.
The maximum punishment for a class A misdemeanor is one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
(Salt Lake Tribune - Jun 7, 2016)
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