Indy Chronicler

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) — An Anderson horse coach is dealing with animal cruelty costs after being caught on video whipping his horse with a leather-based lead in June.

A possible trigger affidavit obtained by Information 8 says in September, an Anderson Police Division detective was tipped off a few YouTube video dated in June exhibiting a horse at Harrah’s Hoosier Park racetrack being whipped a number of occasions by its coach.

Investigators spoke with Hoosier Park officers, who stated they investigated the incident and recognized the coach within the video as 69-year-old Dale Hiteman.

The horse, named Princess Laa, is proven within the video flailing herself up and falling to the bottom when Hiteman tried to put a bridal and different gear on her head. After the horse fell to the nook of her stall, courtroom paperwork say, Hiteman is seen grabbing a leather-based lead and whipping the horse a number of occasions on her physique and head.

After Hiteman stopped putting Princess Laa, she stood up. Hiteman then put the gear on her head and led her from her stall.

Park officers shared with investigators {that a} witness stated she had been working outdoors of Princess Laa’s stall and witnessed Hiteman whipping the horse. Court docket paperwork say the witness had solely been working with Hiteman for 2 weeks and later give up as a result of incident.

Veterinarians who examined Princess Laa stated in statements that, after the incident, they couldn’t see any proof of bodily or psychological trauma to the horse. Court docket paperwork say that the veterinarians additionally couldn’t see a precise motive for why Hiteman struck Princess Laa.

Anderson police spoke with Hiteman on Oct. 11, who confirmed to investigators that he was the coach within the video, and that “he was putting the horse on the again of the top attempting to scare her to make her rise up.”

Hiteman was not arrested following the incident. A courtroom listening to has not been set but.

Information 8 has reached out to Harrah’s Hoosier Park for remark.