舒马赫醉酒骑马被捕

Colorado cowboy busted for drunken horseback riding

Patrick Schumacher, 45, of Colorado Springs planned to ride 600 miles to his brother’s wedding in Bryce, Utah. University of Colorado police interrupted the horseman’s ride after finding him drunkenly astride his steed, Dillon, in a Boulder intersection.

REUTERS  Thursday, September 12, 2013, 10:15 AM

@LOSTONTHEHILL/VIA TWITTER

Patrick Schumacher takes a breathalyzer test after Colorado cops found him drunkenly riding his horse in a busy intersection.

A Colorado man riding a horse to his brother's wedding 600 miles away in Utah was arrested for drunken driving, animal cruelty and other charges after witnesses reported him blocking traffic and hitting his horse, police said on Tuesday.

Patrick Schumacher, 45, was taken into custody in Boulder on Monday afternoon by University of Colorado police after officers found him visibly intoxicated, police spokesman Ryan Huff said.

Huff said Schumacher was cooperative but failed a field sobriety test and a search of his saddle bag turned up a small pistol and several beer cans. A small pug dog named Bufford was found in his backpack.

BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Patrick Schumacher was booked on animal cruelty charges as well as drunken horseback riding.

"This is pretty unusual," Huff said. "It's probably the first time in department history that we have pulled someone over for driving under the influence while on a horse."

Schumacher was arrested on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment, as well as drunken horseback riding, which is a traffic infraction.

He has yet to be formally charged by prosecutors, Huff said, and is due in court October 31.

When asked by officers why he hit the horse, Schumacher said that he was swatting a fly on its head, Huff said. Witnesses had told police that the horse was rearing up in traffic.

Schumacher's horse, named Dillon, and his dog were sheltered overnight by the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. The pistol was held as evidence.

Schumacher was released from custody late Monday night and was reunited with Dillon and Bufford on Tuesday morning, Huff said.

Shortly thereafter, he rode off on the horse, with Bufford in his backpack, telling officers that he was again en route to his brother's wedding in Bryce, Utah, Huff said.

Schumacher told police that he'd lost his driver's license, so he decided to make the trip to his brother's wedding on horseback, Huff said.

"We took him at his word," Huff said.

@LOSTONTHEHILL/VIA TWITTER

Patrick Schumacher was charged with drunken horseback riding by University of Colorado cops in Boulder, Colo.

RYAN HUFF/CU-BOULDER POLICE

Patrick Schumacher was released from jail, and his horse, Dillon, and pug, Bufford, were released back to him at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

RYAN HUFF/CU-BOULDER POLICE

Patrick Schumacher was a popular interview after he became the first person in the history of the University of Colorado police department to be charged with drunken horseback riding.

Shortly thereafter, he rode off on the horse, with Bufford in his backpack, telling officers that he was again en route to his brother's wedding in Bryce, Utah, Huff said.

Schumacher told police that he'd lost his driver's license, so he decided to make the trip to his brother's wedding on horseback, Huff said.

RYAN HUFF/CU-BOULDER POLICE

Patrick Schumacher reunited with his horse, Dillon, and pug, Bufford, after he was released from jail.