Shirley Zimmerley, 69, told responding deputies that the horse’s stab wounds were cat scratches, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said

Shirley ZimmerleyCredit: brevard county sheriff's office
Shirley Zimmerley
Credit: brevard county sheriff’s office

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  • Shirley Zimmerley, 69, allegedly stabbed a horse multiple times and whipped it out of frustration over its behavior
  • Once at the stable, deputies found additional horses with open wounds and mandated veterinary care for all the animals on the property
  • As of Monday, Aug. 10, Zimmerley was still in custody with a $12,000 bond and faces multiple animal cruelty charges

A Florida woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing a horse in front of a child.

Shirley Zimmerley, 69, was arrested by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) on Monday, Aug. 10, after she allegedly “stabbed a horse multiple times” in front of a child on July 26 while the child was receiving therapy on site at Florida Horseback Trail Rides in Cocoa, Fla., per an arrest warrant obtained by PEOPLE, and Sheriff Warren Ivey’s press briefing.

The child alerted their parents, who contacted the sheriff’s office. Zimmerley was charged with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, per the arrest warrant.

“She stabbed a freaking horse with a knife, then started whipping the horse because she was frustrated over the horse’s behavior,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, adding that the horse was also severely malnourished. “When our team got here, they not only found that the horse had been stabbed multiple times, they found the horse was a three out of nine on the body scale.”

Zimmerley allegedly told deputies that the horse’s stab wounds were cat scratches, Ivey said.

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Upon the BCSO deputies’ arrival, they discovered additional horses with open wounds, and issued Zimmerley “several citations.” Officers also mandated veterinary care for all of the animals.

“This is not only unacceptable, it’s insane,” Ivey said.

She was taken to the Brevard County Jail and remains in custody with a $12,000 bond.

PEOPLE reached out to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Horseback Trail Rides for comment.

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