Horse Owner's First Television Interview

A Fort Pierre man accused of stealing and mistreating a rodeo horse is out of jail tonight after posting bail. 

Flint Dahl, 22, faces two counts of grand theft and one count of inhumane treatment of an animal.

In her first television interview since the incident, the owner of the horse, Wendy Halweg of Mitchell says she isn't sure whether Dually will ever be able to compete at the same level he once did.

These are some of the burns and lacerations Dually received on his legs. While the scars may eventually heal, Wendy Halweg's emotional wounds run deep.

She says the past three months have been hard, waiting for an arrest, while still trying to compete. 

"It's been eventful, a little trying at times. Kind of turns things upside down you know," Halweg said.

Up until now, she's had trouble talking about it wondering how someone could do this to an animal, but also trying to understand why.

"I've worked hard with this horse to get where I'm at and you do have goals," Halweg said.

Halweg and Dually were currently in 4th place in the standings. She hoped to make it to the Professional Rodeo Badlands Circuit Finals before this happened.

"Just like any athlete you get pulled out of what they're doing, it's turned things around in your life. You have a lot of goals you set each summer and those have gone away and comeback and you don't know what to do, I guess deal with what your dealt," Halweg said.

As for Dually, he's still in rehabilitation, and doing better, but she still wouldn't allow our cameras to videotape him.
"He's got some tendon issues we're going to have to deal with take some rehabs and what not to comeback.  It'll never be 100 percent like he was, I'm sure of that," Halweg said.

Halweg says even though it took almost three months to make an arrest, she's glad authorities stayed with the case. 

"The frustration of that, but yet I knew part of the reason was because we wanted everything to be right when it came forward," Halweg.

Now she wants justice for Dually. 

"The fact what happened doesn't need to happen to anyone else."

Flint Dahl makes his first court appearance October 19. If convicted he faces up to 11 years in prison.

On a positive note, Halweg was able to borrow another barrel horse from a 13-year-old girl, finished 8th in the standings and was able to qualify for the Badlands Circuit finals.