Bandit, a miniature horse who has lived in Louisville’s Meriwether neighborhood for 14 years, may be forced to leave his longtime home due to a recent city ordinance change. The new law, passed by Metro Council in October, requires ponies and miniature horses to be kept on at least one acre of land, the same as full-sized horses, whereas Bandit currently lives on about 0.2 acres. Bandit is well-loved in the community, regularly visited by neighbors and even featured in local events, including a neighbor’s wedding and therapeutic visits for children with autism.

The ordinance change caught Bandit’s owner, Susan Bruner, by surprise, as previous animal control inspections found no violations. Neighbors quickly rallied to support Bandit, gathering over 500 petition signatures in a day to keep him in his home. Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell, who sponsored the ordinance, expressed unawareness of the miniature horse provision and is reviewing the legislation’s origins. Bruner plans to appeal the decision in court, emphasizing Bandit’s importance to her well-being and community life, stating, “He’s like my kid.” Her court date is set for January 7.