Horse Ridden On Chicago Highway By Mayor's 'Census Cowboy' May Be Euthanized

Cook County prosecutors say the horse ridden down the Dan Ryan Expressway by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's "Census Cowboy" was forced to do the equivalent of an 80-year-old woman running a full marathon. The horse, ridden 7 1/2 miles down the highway, may have to be euthanized, according to the prosecutors who say the horse wasn't equipped for the ride and was almost run to death by Adam Hollingsworth.

Over the summer, Lightfoot introduced Hollingsworth to the Chicago community and announced he would be used to get the word out about filling out census forms via his Dreadhead Cowboy act. The cowboy rode into a press conference atop his horse Prince, who is now in very bad shape thanks to the actions on the highway.

An equine veterinarian told authorities the horse suffered “a great deal” during the ride and there was "profuse" bleeding due to lack of proper shoes for the pavement.

Even if Prince is to survive, he'll never be able to be ridden again, according to the state attorney in charge of the animal cruelty case.

As for the mayor, she's now furious with the cowboy she hailed back in July. “What is clear is that this stunt not only seriously endangered the horse, but also the rider and all travelers on the expressway,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “There is a right way and a wrong way to call attention to issues of great importance, and this stunt was decidedly the very wrong way.”