In Boulder, Colorado a man riding a horse to his brother’s wedding over 900 kilometres away in Utah was arrested for drunken driving, animal cruelty & assorted other charges local police said, yesterday.

Patrick Schumacher was taken into custody late on Monday afternoon after reports that he had hit the horse in traffic, causing it to rear-up, & officers found him clearly the worse for wear, police spokesman Ryan Huff said.

Huff said Schumacher failed a field sobriety test & a search of his saddle bag turned up a small pistol & beer, while a small dog named Bufford was found in his backpack.

Schumacher was arrested on charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons & reckless endangerment, as well as drunken horseback riding (& yes, in Boulder, they do have a law that covers that).

When asked by officers why he hit the horse (called Dillon), Schumacher said that he was swatting a fly on its head, Huff said.

Dillon & Bufford were provided with accommodation overnight by the Humane Society of Boulder Valley while Schumacher’s overnight arrangements were a little less luxurious. The police kept the pistol as evidence.

After being released Schumacher rode off on the horse, with Bufford again in his backpack, telling officers that he was still heading for his brother’s wedding in Bryce, Utah, Huff said.

Schumacher told police that he’d lost his driver’s license, so he decided to make the trip to his brother’s wedding on horseback.

Just a guess, but if he & his brother are alike, he should arrive just in time for the divorce.