Image by Vegas Gabriel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBefore the recovery of Frehner\u2019s body was made, Gonzalez filed a criminal complaint last week accusing him of mistreating her horse. While law enforcement never officially confirmed the man\u2019s identity in the video, Frehner acknowledged the footage on social media, defending his actions as a misunderstood attempt to reposition a minimally handled mustang colt during castration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all,\u201d Frehner said at the time on Facebook. \u201cIt was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my job and I love helping people and their horses. I am very sorry,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In the days following the controversy, Frehner\u2019s family reported him missing after his truck was found abandoned near Lake Mead with his wallet, phone, and keys still inside. There was an extensive search effort involving multiple agencies that took place. An official cause of death has not been made public.<\/p>\n
The Nye County Sheriff\u2019s Office had opened an investigation into the original animal cruelty allegations prior to his death. Meanwhile, both supporters and critics of Frehner took to social media to express condolences and reflect on the man behind the headlines \u2014 a veterinarian with a long career of serving Nevada\u2019s equine community.<\/p>\n
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