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A Vian, Oklahoma man is facing charges of animal cruelty after his horse was found brutally injured and left tied to a tree.

            Reuben Houston, 26, allegedly tied the horse to the back of his ATV and dragged it down a paved road. Houston claims he was angry at the animal for escaping from its paddock so often.

            A neighbour found the horse tied to a tree with its eye protruding from the socket, and most of the flesh torn off its shoulder, ribs, flank and hip, police say. The neighbour called Sequoyah County police to investigate.

            The horse’s injuries were so horrendous that it was humanely euthanized by a vet shortly after being found. “I’ve seen some bad injuries to horses and animals, but this is uncalled for,” Sequoyah County Sherriff Ron Lockhart told media. “I don’t care how mad you can be at an animal, you shouldn’t be dragging it down a highway.”

            Houston was arrested and faces charges of cruelty to animals, trespassing, unauthorized motor vehicle use on a roadway and causing malicious injury. He was released from jail on a bond of $9,500 and is set to appear in court on November 16. No formal charges have been laid.