2 charged after video shows horse being dragged in Grand County

WARNING: The above video may be disturbing to some viewers.

A video posted to Facebook showing a horse being dragged by a truck on a Grand County ranch prompted backlash from hundreds of people and an investigation by the Grand County Sheriff's Office.

Now two people have been criminally charged in connection with the incident.

The video was originally posted to Facebook and has since been taken down. Sky-Hi News obtained a copy and uploaded it. The Grand County Sheriff's Office was first informed of the video on Sunday.

The GCSO says the incident happened near Grand Lake -- a horse was tied to the back of a pickup truck, and the driver of the truck accelerated across their ranch property.

A woman can be heard narrating the video, and she says the horse is being "barn sour," which is why it was being pulled by the truck.

Tuesday, the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced that 59-year-old John Saldate and 33-year-old Amber Saldate were charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

In a press briefing Monday afternoon, the Grand County Sheriff said the horse in the video was evaluated by a local veterinarian Monday morning. The veterinarian found no obvious trauma, but did administer pain medication to the animal after noting that the horse was tender.

Authorities are in the process of transferring the horse to the local Humane Society for further evaluation and medication if necessary, according to the Sheriff.

The GCSO says that the owner of the horse is cooperating with the investigation at this time. The Sheriff's Office is conducting interviews and working with the local Humane Society and Grand County Animal Care and Control.

The DA's office says the horse was seized by law enforcement and is safe.