By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 20-year-old Oklahoma City man accused of failing to provide prescribed medication to a six-year-old Arabian mare kept at Starr Valley Stables in rural Stillwater has been sent a letter to appear in court on July 24 on a charge of animal cruelty or face being arrested.
If convicted of the felony, Aquantae Q. Bowler, who allegedly had not been on the property regularly taking care of the horse for about five months, could be given a five-year prison term and a $5,000 fine.
Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Dalton Ross began investigating the animal’s welfare on June 24 after a caller expressed concern “about a horse whose owner had abandoned it and neglected it,” on property where the caller lives and has his own horses, an affidavit alleged.
“He said he has been taking care of the horse due to the horse needing someone to take care of it. He informed me that this morning he went out and the horse in question was down and required approximately 30 minutes of him helping the horse to get up. He contacted the OSU veterinarian to respond.
“Dr. Patricia Sayler informed me the horse had a body condition score of 3, 3 1/2. She informed me that the horse was swollen on her back limbs and had an abscess/infection in her eye. She informed me that her suggestions were possibly giving the horse over-the-counter Tylenol to help comfort her and aid her in moving.
“She also stated that the horse needed to have an antibiotic for the eye infection. This antibiotic needed to be given three times a day and Tylenol two times a day. She felt that this along with a better diet would assist the horse to health. She informed me that the horse could lose her eye if left untreated and the infection continued to worsen.
“She informed me she spoke with Bowler and went over this information, and she said he informed her he would be picking up the medicine from her clinic that evening. I spoke with Bowler who informed me he did speak with Dr. Sayler, and he was going to go get the medicine that evening and mentioned he would be picking up the horse and moving it to another stable in Oklahoma City in a couple of days.
“Bowler was informed that it was very important that he did what he said he was going to, for the sake of the horse. He was informed that if he couldn’t care for the horse, giving the horse up was an option. I told him to keep me informed if he couldn’t get the medication picked up. OSU veterinarian facility contacted dispatch on the evening of June 24, 2024, and informed them Bowler would not be able to get the medication that evening, and that it would be the 25th before he could pick it up,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“On June 25, 2024, at approximately 7:39 am, I observed the horse at Starr Valley; the gate to the pen had a lock on it. The horse had water as well as a feed pan. The horse appeared to be thinner than it should have been and constantly checked its food pan. There was some green grass in the pen but wouldn’t provide the nutritional content required to boost the condition of the horse.
“The left eye of the horse was draining and appeared to be swollen. On June 25, 2024, at approximately 3:30 pm, I contacted the OSU veterinary facility, who informed me that Bowler again had not picked up the medication. I called Bowler at 10:20 am on June 26, 2024. He informed me he was going to be moving the horse that day and would be leaving in approximately an hour. He informed that he would call when he arrived. Bowler never contacted me,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
The man who runs the stables “informed me that Bowler owed him four months of stable rent at $125 a month. He believed that Bowler had been to the property less than five times this year. He informed me that (the caller) as well as himself have been trying to take care of the horse and didn’t want to see it fall into a poor condition.
“Bowler has not made an effort to assist in any way with the health and healing of this horse since I have been involved or made the simple effort of contacting me to inform me of any progress or problems he has with being able to care for the horse,” the deputy alleged in an arrest warrant affidavit.
