The Dreadhead Cowboy asks for help days after animal cruelty arrest: 'Lori come help me. I can't do

[demmiblue]

If Adam Hollingsworth — the so-called Dreadhead Cowboy — had to do it all over again, he said he would still gladly make the unauthorized gallop on the Dan Ryan Expressway to spotlight violence against children in Chicago this year.

The urban horseman enjoyed local celebrity as an activist and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s census ambassador before being charged with felony animal cruelty following his ride earlier this week. But on Thursday, he pleaded for help from the mayor’s office and Chicago’s pantheon of famous and socially conscious rappers to make the criminal case go away.

Hollingsworth quickly went viral Monday as he livestreamed his horseback ride on the expressway during the afternoon rush hour. “I shut down the Dan Ryan, Kids' Lives Matter,” he streamed on Facebook Live. But the excitement of the moment quickly melted away at the end of the ride when the animal collapsed, critically injured, and Hollingsworth was arrested. In addition to the felony, he faces misdemeanor counts of trespassing and reckless conduct.

...

“Yes, I’d do it again,” said Hollingworth, 33. “I’ve been to jail. I’ve got a background. I’m not perfect. I would rather go to jail for something like (this). That is something worth going to jail for.” Hollingsworth added: “And I didn’t mean no harm on my horse, at all. I’m a horse- (and) animal-loving person. My focus is Kids Lives Matter. And If a person can’t agree with that, I don’t know what to call you.”

...

The animal was dehydrated, exhausted and injured when it collapsed on the asphalt roadway near 95th Street following a 7.5-mile ride. Authorities said the horse was transported to an animal rescue shelter for medical evaluation.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-deadhead-cowboy-speaks-20200925-r27jjz4lzfgxjcotfcr6piwn6m-story.html

I saw a clip of the video on Twitter (not the ending)... horse people were appalled.

[Demovictory9]

1. Ugh..i hate animal abuse. Eff him

[StarryNite]

2. I'm with you!

[marble falls]

3. Let him die in jail.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Fuck you and your excuses asshole

In my anger, I can only type FUCK YOU.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. You're not helping any kids by abusing an animal.

[cwydro]

22. I hope to God Lightfoot ignores him.

Glad he was charged with a felony.

[Codeine]

6. Stop fucking riding horses, people.

Unnecessary bullshit.

[NickB79]

12. It's a great skill to have

At the rate we're wrecking the planet's biosphere, our greatgrandkids will need to know it following the collapse of civilization.

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

7. i feel for the guy. i've had animals all my life.

and i have lost a few through a minutes inattention, or a simple mistake.
obviously this was more than that. but i can see him being caught up in doing something big for kids.
i am sure he will punish himself for the rest of his life. i know those moments of my life are vivid memories that will always haunt me.

[cwydro]

15. I've had animals all my life too.

I’ve somehow managed not to “lose a few” because of inattention or mistakes.

I mean, wtaf?

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

18. well, maybe you haven't had as many as me.

here is one story-
i had a cherry headed conure. she clearly had a respiratory issue. at the time, there were very few avian vets around. i took her to one vet that 'saw birds'. she confirmed she had something going on, but didnt have meds to offer.
she recommended an antibiotic you could get at pet stores. it was meant to be put in water, but i didnt trust that., because birds will often not drink water if it tastes funny. so i figured out the dose she needed, and mixed it w oj. i gave it to her w a small syringe. it took about 2cc's.

she had been very shy, so handling her was tough. but she got used to being toweled, and actually warmed up to me. she needed the meds for 14 days. it was the day 12.
it was also my sons bday. the last thing i had to do before we left for wherever we were going was to give kazoo her meds.
i guess because i was in a hurry, the juice went down the wrong way. she died in my hands.

glad you have a perfect track record. but at 66 and a lifetime of pets, i have had a few tragedies. and lost one that i took to the vet, he didnt see that her kidneys were failing. next day, she still wasnt right, i could tell. i took her to another vet. they took her back to get a blood sample, and she died in the tech's hands. so it even happens to vets.

[Withywindle]

8. I think fame went to his head, tbh

Yeah, it was cool and heartwarming to see him around the city and supporting the protests and all that. And if he'd kept it to just short rides around town it would have been fine. Chicago still has a horse-carriage business for tourists and that has a bad track record. (It finally got banned starting next year.)

But he took it too far. He rode an UNSHOD horse over 7 miles on concrete. You just don't do that.

[Codeine]

16. An unshod 20yr old horse with saddle sores

and rotten teeth, to boot. This guy is a real POS.

[cwydro]

17. He obviously knows nothing about caring for horses.

Reading the account of all the maladies that horse is suffering makes me very angry.

That asshole should not be allowed to have animals EVER.

[Green Line]

9. I just read that nunu is recovering

Poor girl, that was abuse

[demmiblue]

11. Thanks. I put an update below.

I am glad that she is doing better, but...

[demmiblue]

10. UPDATE:

Dread Head Cowboy’s horse ‘has drastically improved,’ now on private farm after expressway ride, Ald. Lopez says

...

Sneed has learned the injured horse nearly ridden to death by the “Dread Head Cowboy” in an anti-violence protest on the Dan Ryan Expressway, is safely on the mend and on her way to recovery since being moved to a horse farm in the south suburbs.

“She’s rallied,” said Ald. Ray Lopez (15th), a strong advocate of humane animal care who works closely with the city’s Animal Care and Control Department.

“But I’m told it should never be ridden again,” he said.

Although initially listed in critical condition and facing euthanasia following the 8-mile, shoeless ride that snarled traffic Monday, the injured horse is expected to be able to walk again in a quiet, stable environment, added Lopez.

Severely dehydrated and twice collapsing after it got to Chicago Animal Care and Control, “the horse was transferred to the Tinley Park Farm to be cared for immediately by a vet specializing in equine care,” he said.

“It’s now responding to IV fluids, and its condition has drastically improved since being transferred to the farm,” Lopez said.

...

“I’m told NuNu is now eating and has had healthy bowel movements and her saddle sores are being addressed,” Lopez said. “The horse’s teeth and hooves were in bad condition; the horse was fitted for horse shoes Friday for added support. It had none during its deadly concrete ride. And, of course, she will get her teeth cleaned.”

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/9/25/21456256/dread-head-cowboy-horse-dan-ryan-adam-hollingsworth-protest-violence-abuse-alderman-lopez-dehydrated

[Green Line]

13. Thanks for the update

What a beautiful girl she is.

[cwydro]

19. I hope he doesn't get her back.

And if hope they check out the other horses 🐎 n his “care” too.

[Raine]

24. He should never ever be allowed to have control over an animal again! 😪 nt

[cwydro]

25. I agree. People have a right to support whomever they want.

Guy just wants to be famous.

[Green Line]

14. Some more information on NuNu

This is from her gofundme page:


NuNu was taken to Chicago Animal Care and Control where she collapsed. Immediate emergency care was needed as she was transferred to a private farm and an equine specialty veterinarian met her to provide emergency care. NuNu's body temperature was still extremely high and she required fluids as she was severely dehydrated to the point it was life threatening. NuNu also has injuries to her legs which will be discussed in greater detail when appropriate as this is an ongoing legal case. She was given pain medication during her examination and remains on pain medication at this time.

NuNu spends much of her time lying down as she is still extremely painful with volunteers walking her every two hours for short periods of time or she becomes too stiff and it's even more difficult for her to get up and moving. Dr. P approximates NuNu at over 20 years old with a heart murmur. ASA Deboni's statement comparing this incident to that of "forcing an 80 year old woman to run a full marathon" is accurate.

NuNu is a beautiful horse, both inside and outside. She's tired right now but that doesn't stop her from her interest in people and always seeking out an ear scratch. She's not shy about a gentle nudge to remind you to keep scratching either. In the horse world it is said a horse has a kind eye. We feel that she owns that phrase, she is so very kind. NuNu showed the true heart of a horse by doing what was asked of her on the Dan Ryan that day even though she was laboring. NuNu gave it her all that day because that's the kind of horse she is.....a warrior. She's not out of the woods yet and we are relying on that brave, fighting spirit she showed that day as the world watched her struggle.

[demmiblue]

21. This got me:

"In the horse world it is said a horse has a kind eye. We feel that she owns that phrase, she is so very kind."

Many thanks to those who are helping her heal.

[AngryOldDem]

20. Just a damn stupid stunt.

Moron.

[Raine]

23. I despise anyone who mistreats an animal! 😡👎 nt