A teenage girl has been arrested and charged after three horses were intentionally injured with a sharp object at a barrel racing competition in Las Vegas.
The incident took place in the early hours of 30 May during the NBHA 2026 Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show at the South Point Casino. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report just after 2am that Saturday. They found that three horses had been injured, possibly with a knife, in what the department described as an intentional act. The injuries were not considered life-threatening but were expected to keep the horses from competing. The National Barrel Horse Association stated that the situation was addressed immediately with police and security. The teenage competitor, who had access to the barn area, was located at a nearby hotel and taken into custody. She was later transported to Clark County juvenile hall. She faces 12 counts of wilful or malicious kill, maim or torture of an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000. The girl has made one court appearance and is due to appear again this week.
