A teenage girl has been arrested after a horrifying incident at a barrel racing competition at South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where three horses were injured by a sharp object.
What began as a shocking early‑morning call quickly turned into a heartbreaking case of animal cruelty. Police were called to South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa on Saturday morning after reports of an injured horse at the large equestrian facility just off the Las Vegas Strip.
But when officers arrived, the situation was far worse than expected. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, three horses had suffered stab wounds.
Detectives from the animal‑cruelty division soon identified a 17‑year‑old girl who reportedly had access to the barn as a possible suspect.
Police say she now faces 12 counts of willful/malicious kill/maim/torture of an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000.
Teen girl arrested after allegedly stabbing three horses at Las Vegas racing event
The horses received medical treatment for their injuries, which fortunately were not life‑threatening. They are expected to make full recoveries but will not be able to compete in the immediate future.
The disturbing incident has left animal lovers stunned and searching for answers. The National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) released a statement calling it an “isolated” incident and said, “All appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the well‑being of all horses.”
The NBHA also stated that the alleged attacker was actually an event competitor.
“The 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show, held May 29–31 at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas, experienced an isolated incident during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 30, involving the mistreatment of a limited number of equine athletes by an event competitor,” the statement read.
No ongoing threat
The statement continued, “The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind. We ask for respect and consideration for all involved during this sensitive time.”
