Police: Stafford Man Dragged Horse Tied to Pickup

State police are investigating a possible case of animal cruelty.

State police are investigating a possible case of animal cruelty against a Stafford Springs man accused of dragging a horse tied to his pickup truck.

Culver Modesty's horse, Annie, had gotten loose early Sunday morning and ended up on a neighbor's property, the town’s resident trooper said, so, he found his horse and went to bring the horse home.

"After about 100 yards, she became determined to return to her horse friends, and literally dragged me behind her, back to the paddock," Modester said in a statement.

"By this time, my 86 year old heart was complaining and I needed another method of leading her. I recalled photos of horses, tied to the rear of wagons, in past years, a seemingly normal occurrence. It seemed a logical thing to do, particularly as the Kelley's failed to offer any assistance," Modester said.   

He used the nylon rope attached to the bumper of his truck to get the horse home, police said.

Modester said he drove very slowly for about 15 feet.

"She bucked and kicked and so forth and then she fell," Modester said. "At that point, I stopped. I had only gone about 15 feet I guess."

So, he untied the horse.

"She wasn't being dragged. I didn't drag her. She fell and I stopped," Modester said.

Modesty's neighbors, Bob and Helen Kelley, took several photographs that show the horse resisting being pulled by the truck and ending up on its side.

Bob and Helen Kelley said this was animal cruelty, but another neighbor said this is anything but animal cruelty and the Kelley's are trying to start trouble with the neighbor.

"It's very apparent that someone is trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill and all of this could have been avoided if they brought the horse home they're experienced horse people," Everett Wright, a neighbor, said.

When Modester got the horse back to the stall, he fed and watered the horse and called a vet to treat two abrasions on her rear legs.

Police said charges are possible.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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