VIDEO: Ranch Owners Arrested In Colorado For Dragging Tied Horse Behind Pickup Truck

Two ranch owners were charged Tuesday with animal cruelty by police in Grand County, Colorado, after an online video emerged Sunday of a horse being tied and dragged behind their truck.

John Saldate, 59, and Amber Saldate, 33, have both been charged with one count of animal cruelty and will appear in court in January.

Police have also seized the horse, identified as Trigger, with the aid of Grand County Animal Control and taken to a veterinary hospital for evaluation.

The horse can be seen struggling against the truck as it was pulled further into the property during a snowstorm. Shortly after the video emerged, police received multiple calls about the video demanding action to be taken and to launch an investigation into the alleged abuse.

“Cases involving kids and animals are obviously very emotional,” Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin told Denver CBS affiliate KCNC. “We need to do our part of the investigation which sometimes takes a little bit longer than what the community is hoping.”

The Saldates expressed remorse for their actions.

“I’m very sorry. I get why people are upset,” Amber Saldate told KCNC on Monday. “I was so stupid. I don’t know why we did it.”

She also touched on how the video has affected things for herself and her partner.

“You make one bad decision sometimes and it can destroy your life,” she continued. “I’ve lost my job over this. I’ve upset a lot of people. I made our horse go through something that he shouldn’t have. I was wrong.”