Photo: Centauro
In May of 2019, an Alameda County resident trusted a Chowchilla horse trainer with his 3-year old Andalusian stallion “Centauro.”
The trainer, 29-year old Miguel Olvera, was to teach Centauro how to ride and dance. On April 28, 2020, the owner’s son unexpectedly picked up the horse, per the request of his dad.
When Centauro was picked up, the owner’s son noticed he did not look well. Centauro had horizontal injuries on his nose, his pasterns (ankles) were swollen, he sides marred with spurring scars, and he had a large scabbed over injury on his backside with some raw skin.
The injuries were indications of abusive training methods which inflict fear and pain to gain compliance. Olvera had not disclosed the injuries to the owner or sought medical attention for the horse. Centauro was taken home and examined by a vet a few days later.
The vet confirmed Centauro had been abused and noted he was underweight. The abuse was reported to San Juaquin County Animal Services.
On May 12, 2020, the Madera County Sheriff’s Department took Olvera into custody and booked him into the Madera County Jail for felony animal cruelty. His bail was set at $50,000; he bonded out that evening.
Photos from MCSO
