On a lighter note to the present flooding disaster taking place in Boulder, a Colorado man was arrested Monday downtown, for riding his horse while under the influence. University of Colorado police picked up Patrick Schumacher, after seeing him visibly intoxicated near Broadway and College Avenue. Officers said Schumacher was slumped over his saddle, and was forcing pedestrians out of the way as he was crossing streets.
Schumacher, 45, told authorities that he was riding his horse, Dillon, 600 miles to his brother’s wedding in Utah — a sort of hokey quest that only the riotously besotted could embark upon. Police found a small handgun and several beer cans in his saddle bag, as well as a pug named Bufford in his backpack. Schumacher was also seen allegedly smacking Dillon.
After failing a field sobriety test, Schumacher was arrested on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment. Oh yeah, and also drunken horseback riding, which counts as a traffic violation. Dillon and Bufford were sheltered by the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, and were reunited with Schumacher Tuesday morning, after he’d slept it off.
Schumacher, who is due in court October 31st, told authorities he was merely swatting a fly on his horse’s head, and that he’d been riding from Larkspur, Colorado to Bryce, Utah, to get to the wedding. Soon after being released, Schumacher told police he was back on his quest, and rode off.
Boulder Police spokesman Ryan Huff said, “This is pretty unusual — It’s probably the first time in department history that we have pulled someone over for driving under the influence while on a horse.”