A Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to Central to follow up on a report of a horse that was reportedly spooked by the hot air balloons during the Gila Valley Balloon Extravaganza just before Christmas.
The owner of the horse told the deputy that the horse is worth $50,000 and wanted to make a police report on the incident. The man said that the balloons spooked his horse, which caused it to run into the fence and get caught. The man said that nobody saw the horse get spooked. He came outside and found it caught in the steel rods of the corral fence. Some of the rods had to be cut to get the horse free. The deputy noted that three of the horses legs were injured and bandaged.
A veterinarian at the scene told authorities that it could cost up to $3,000 to treat the horses injuries.
