Fresno woman arrested for alleged assault with horse

A 53-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon -- a horse.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said today that Cathy Marie Williams of Badger and three other people were horseback riding on Friday afternoon in the rural foothills near the 4700 block of Todd Eymann Road, about 10 miles east of Squaw Valley. The group approached a 65-year-old man and his friend who were hiking and started arguing with the hikers about a property dispute, the Sheriff's Office said.

At some point, Williams rode up to the victim and knocked him to the ground with her horse. She then had her horse trample the man's feet as he lay on the ground, authorities said. Williams reportedly got off her horse, kicked the victim and struck him several times with a stick.

The Sheriff's Office said Williams then got back on her horse and left. She was later found in a nearby house and arrested.

Emergency medical personnel found the victim lying on the ground. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital. His condition is not known.