Old-Fashioned Horse Ride From South Carolina To Florida Keys Ends In Man's Arrest

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An old-fashioned horse ride across three states came to a quick "whoa" in South Miami-Dade.

It is like a country western song – a bad divorce, high-tailing it out of town, alone with a horse, heading south from South Carolina to the Florida Keys.

That was the plan.

"I just had a bad, rough patch with my wife. Got a divorce and wrecked my truck. The old country story thing," said Chris Emerson.

Chopper4 was there was Emerson's horse was delivered to the SPCA rehab farm in South Miami-Dade while he was heading to the county jail.

"We received pictures of the skinny horse with open sores on his back," said SPCA Ranch Director Laurie Waggoner.

The horse ride to the keys was interrupted along the bus way in South Miami-Dade.

Posts on Facebook chronicled Emerson's ride on his trusty steed named "Trigger."

Representatives of the SPCA said they were contacted by alarmed horse lovers.

"The horse is not in good physical condition to make this journey," said Waggoner.

Emerson told police he did not have money to feed himself or his horse and depended on contributions and assistance from strangers along the way.

Trigger will get lots of rehab and a vet will check on him.

Emerson is charged with animal cruelty and will have to go to court to get his horse back.