MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A 22-year-old woman faces animal cruelty charges after deputies found an “emaciated” horse in her care, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said that they responded to a home on Wednesday in the 15700 block of NW 27th Ave. in Citra after receiving a report of an underweight horse.
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According to a news release, deputies discovered a 17-year-old thoroughbred gelding named “Bully” who was severely malnourished with “all ribs, tailhead and hip bones visible.”
Deputies said that Isabella Rose Medina told them that she received the horse a year ago, and the animal began to lose weight in the last month.
“She had not received veterinary care for Bully, but believes he just needs hay, which she doesn’t have,” the release read in part.
After receiving a search warrant the following day, deputies returned and brought Bully the horse back to their Agriculture Investigations farm to be evaluated by a veterinarian.
According to the release, the horse was found down in his stall and too weak to stand on the following morning.
MCSO AGRICULTURE UNIT ARREST WOMAN FOR AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTYMCSO AGRICULTURE UNIT ARREST WOMAN FOR AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Detective Kraig McClaskey arrested Isabella Rose Medina (DOB: 12/12/2002) for Aggravated Animal Cruelty. On July 23, 2025, MCSO Civilian Agricultural Investigator McClure responded to a home in the 15700 block of NW 27th Ave, in Citra, after receiving a complaint about an underweight horse. Upon arriving at the residence, he located a 17-year-old Old Bay Thoroughbred Gelding named Bully, who was severely malnourished, with all ribs, tailhead and hip bones visible. Investigator McClure interviewed Medina, who informed him that she received the horse a year ago and in the last month he began to lose weight. She had not received veterinary care for Bully, but believes he just needs hay, which she doesn’t have. A Search and Seizure warrant was issued on July 24, 2025, and MCSO deputies responded back to the home and took possession of Bully and brought him back to our Agriculture Investigations farm to be evaluated by a veterinarian. The next morning, the horse was down in the stall and too weak to stand. The veterinarian with the Peterson Smith Equine Hospital responded to evaluate the horse. Bully was found to have rain rot, and a body condition score of one, which indicates he was emaciated with no palpable fat or visible fat coverage throughout his body, coupled with muscle depreciation. Due to the severity of Bully’s condition, the veterinarian recommended medical euthanasia to prevent further suffering. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that Medina intentionally deprived Bully of adequate food and medical care. Medina was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail.
Posted by Marion County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, July 29, 2025
After being evaluated by a veterinarian, Bully was found to have “rain rot, and a body condition score of one, which indicates he was emaciated with no palpable fat or visible fat coverage throughout his body, coupled with muscle depreciation.”
Deputies said that because of Bully’s condition, it was recommended that the horse be put down to prevent further suffering.
According to the release, the release determined Medina intentionally deprived the horse of food and medical care.
Medina was placed under arrest and taken to the Marion County jail, where she faces charges of animal cruelty.