Man Told Police He was Traveling By Horse From SC to Key West

Miami-Dade police charged a 36-year-old man with animal cruelty on Wednesday after they spotted him on what the man described as a more than 800-mile journey from Greenwood, South Carolina to Key West by horseback.

Police said Christopher Michael Emerson looked homeless and the horse appeared underweight, skinny, and malnourished when they found Emerson lying on the ground and the horse tied to a tree near a canal at SW 136 Street & US 1 in Miami at 9:40 a.m.

Detectives said the horse’s ribs, hips, and spine were protruding from its body.

“While in custody, the defendant spontaneously said, he did not have money to feed his horse or himself and depended only on others (strangers) for assistance for both of them to survive,” police said in the arrest affidavit.

Emerson, of the 200 block of Smith Street in Greenwood, was also charged with violating animal health requirements.

Police said that the horse had sores on its mouth and suffered from a body condition.

Contacted by Patch, Greenwood police said they had no knowledge of whether the man’s story was true.

The South Florida SPCA wrote on Facebook that the horse called “Trigger” is safe and would be held for a 21-day quarantine “then we’ll see about his availability for adoption pending the case against the owner.”

Pam Williams of West Jupiter already offered to adopt Trigger when he becomes available.

Meanwhile, she said that she had made a $100 donation to help care for the horse.

“My eyes are full of tears and my heart full of hope for him,” she posted.

Allison Rose Stevens of West Palm Beach said on Facebook that she tried to report the Emerson to Palm Beach County authorities more than a week ago.

“Thank you for stepping in and doing what Palm Beach animal care and control wouldn’t,” she posted. “A week ago tomorrow I had PBSO and PBC ACC meet with Chris after I spent hours looking for him and they did nothing. Thank God to Dade County.”