The footage, which caused widespread concern on social media, was recorded by Shawna Gonzalez, a longtime client of Frehner whose horse, Big Red, was involved in the incident.
“I heard [my mother] yell, ‘Oh my God. He just kicked him,’” Gonzalez told 8NewsNow. “Oh my God, Mom, he’s choking…
He wrapped the horse around his neck three times, and he kicked him in the head.” Gonzalez stated that Frehner had been treating her animals since August.
Following the incident, she reported that Big Red sustained injuries to his head, including abrasions, which would require extensive veterinary care.
Nevada vet Shawn Frehner found dead in Lake Mead shortly after viral video showed him kicking a horse.pic.twitter.com/NZpvtfV56c
— (news) DOGE (@DOGE__news) April 22, 2025
The Clark County Coroner and Medical Examiner later confirmed Frehner’s cause of death, as cited by KTNV. The report stated that he had administered.
