LAS VEGAS — The National Barrel Horse Association has released a statement addressing an incident involving the mistreatment of horses by a competitor at the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show, held May 29–31 at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Updated Sunday May 31, 3 p.m. CST.
According to the association, the incident occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 30, and involved “the mistreatment of a limited number of equine athletes by an event competitor.” NBHA described the incident as isolated.
The situation was “addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel & Casino Security, Metro Police, and all appropriate parties,” the statement read.
“The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind,” NBHA said.
The association asked for “respect and consideration for all involved during this sensitive time” and directed further questions to NBHA. NBHA listed Bailey Nahrgang, Director of Barrel Racing, as the media contact at events@nbha.com.
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Three competitors identify their horses
Three competitors whose horses were involved have spoken publicly about the incident on social media.
In a public Facebook post Saturday, barrel racer Hailey Krahenbuhl wrote that her horse Saaul Good, known as Sully, was attacked. “Sully was stabbed multiple times last night,” Krahenbuhl wrote. “I have no words, he is stitched up and in recovery.” In a follow-up comment on the same post, Krahenbuhl wrote that another of her horses, Foxy, “was almost stabbed as well, but she is okay.”
In a separate public Facebook post Saturday, barrel racer Arielle Phillips wrote that her mare Detail was a second horse involved. Phillips wrote that she had been sitting with Detail at her stall until 12:02 a.m., and returned to the barn shortly afterward to find the mare loose and bleeding. “The vet confirmed these were perfect stab wounds, there was no way it was anything else,” Phillips wrote, citing the assessment of the attending veterinarian. Detail was stitched up at the stall, Phillips wrote.
Phillips wrote that she sat with police and private investigators beginning at 3 a.m. Saturday and that surveillance footage showed the same individual entering both her mare’s stall and the stall of Krahenbuhl’s horse.
Barrel racer Keira Weisbart wrote in a public Facebook post Saturday that her horse Rocket was a third horse targeted. “Rocket was stabbed three times, and had attempted stab attempts around his body,” Weisbart wrote. “He is okay and stitched up and will make a full recovery.” Weisbart wrote that the incident occurred at South Point during the NBHA event in the early morning. She said the individual responsible “is in custody.”
Weisbart also defended the venue in her post. “We don’t blame South Point as there was nothing more they could’ve done,” she wrote. “I pray for every other horse involved.”
The individual has not been publicly named by law enforcement or NBHA.
Fundraiser launched for recovery costs
In a separate Facebook post Saturday, Krahenbuhl announced that she and her sister had organized a fundraiser to help cover the recovery costs for Rocket and Detail. “Our horses are not just animals to us, they are our best friends, our family, our world,” Krahenbuhl wrote. “My sister and I started this to help some of the horses involved during this traumatic time.” Krahenbuhl wrote that funds raised will be split between Weisbart and Phillips.
The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $10,000 as of Sunday afternoon.
The 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show is scheduled to run through Sunday, May 31, at the South Point Hotel & Casino.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story.