In Wyoming, Stuart Schmidt has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after allegedly using an ATV to run down a horse at the Wild Horse Ranch in August 2025. The horse suffered severe injuries and was euthanized by its owner. Schmidt was arrested, arraigned, and released on bond, pleading not guilty to the felony charge. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office reported that Schmidt struck the horse twice, and a witness provided video evidence showing the ATV chasing the horse until it fell, though the video does not clearly show the ATV hitting the animal.

Schmidt’s account conflicts with evidence, as he claimed to have been checking on a sick horse at low speed and attempting to call the owner afterward, but phone records suggest otherwise. The case, reminiscent of a previous incident involving a Wyoming resident running down a wolf with a snowmobile, highlights ongoing legal and ethical debates about animal cruelty involving powersport vehicles. Schmidt’s trial is scheduled for March 2, 2026, and the case underscores the need for clearer laws to prevent such incidents.