The horse seen galloping on the Dan Ryan Expressway Monday guided by a Chicago man known as the “Dreadhead Cowboy” was injured during the incident and is being treated, officials said.
According to Illinois State Police, the horse has "several injuries" and was seen bleeding from a left hoof and appeared to have injured a right hoof after the so-called cowboy rode his horse onto the highway in a slow-speed chase during rush hour Monday. The animal also had sores on the right side of its body, believed to be from the saddle, authorities said Tuesday.
Chicago Animal Care and Control was called to the scene and was arranging for treatment of the horse, officials said. Police said Tuesday the horse was temporarily quartered with CACC and was then transferred to an animal rescue facility for "further medical evaluation."
Adam Hollingsworth, who has achieved notoriety for riding his horse at protests this year and as part of a campaign to improve census participation that was launched by Lightfoot, now faces charges of reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, criminal trespass to state supported property, obstruction of traffic by a person and pedestrian on a controlled access highway.
Hollingsworth was seeing riding the horse onto the expressway Monday afternoon, sparking a slow-speed chase during rush hour and drawing a crowd of motorcycles and other vehicles as he made his way down the highway.
Hollingsworth indicated that his ride was designed to draw attention to the children being hurt by violence in the city.
“Kids’ lives matter!” Hollingsworth, who broadcast part of his ride on social media, said.
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Traffic was backed up as a result of the ride, with Illinois State Police ultimately convincing him to exit the interstate at 95th Street. He was taken into custody by authorities, and now faces several charges in connection with the incident.
Lightfoot, who dubbed Hollingsworth the “Census Cowboy” during an event earlier this year, was also critical of the ride, describing it as a “stunt” that endangered the horse and those on the highway.
“There is a right way and a wrong way to call attention to issues of great importance, and this stunt was decidedly the very wrong way,” she said.
But Hollingsworth also garnered some support for his actions.
“He felt like it was necessary to make a big scene,” Joshua Hatchett, a friend of Hollingsworth, said. “Sometimes you gotta create a little ruckus to get your voice across.”
Eugene Burnett, one of the motorcyclists who rode alongside Hollingsworth, also supported his actions.
“We don’t harm or bother anybody,” he said. “Don’t get in the way. Do something for the kids!”
Another man, who police say "attempted to forcefully gain control of the horse" following the expressway chase was also arrested at the scene Monday, ISP said. That man, Darron Luster, was charged with obstructing and resisting arrest and was released on $1,000 bond, police said.
