Polk City Woman Busted For DUI On A Horse Loses Custody Of Animal

LAKELAND, FL - A Polk City woman arrested for DUI while riding a horse will not be given custody of the animal for now, a judge has ruled. Donna Byrne, 53, was arrested for DUI on Nov. 2 on Combee Road in Polk County while riding her horse, Bo Duke, after a passing motorist spotted her and called deputies. Byrne's horse will be cared for by friends while she completes an alcohol treatment program, News Channel 8 reports.

When arrested in November, Byrne provided breath samples of .157 and .161, deputies said. A breath alcohol level of .08 is the legal limit in Florida. Byrne was also charged with animal neglect for failing to provide proper protection for the horse, placing it in jeopardy of being injured or killed. At the hearing, the judge did grant Byrne supervised visitation rights.

Byrne said she was not drunk when she was stopped. “I wasn’t drunk,” Byrne told News Channel 8. “I only had two beers, how could I be drunk?”

"Ms. Byrne was obviously not in any condition to be on the road. She not only put herself and the horse in danger, but also anyone who was driving on the road, which is typically very busy," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd after the arrest in November.

Read the News Channel 8 story here.

Images via Polk County Sheriff