Jon Stewart’s New Horse Wasn’t Actually Shot 100 Times With Paintballs
Tracey Stewart stands besides Lily the horse she is adopting during a news conference Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Kennett Square, Pa.
It’s not what it looks like – but it’s not great either.
Jon Stewart and his wife, Tracey Stewart, recently adopted a horse from Kennett Square that was believed to have been shot more than 100 times by a paintball gun – but now the former owner is weighing in.
Doreen Weston, who previously owned the white mare named Lily, said the former Daily Show host’s new horse was used at her Pittstown, NJ farm as a canvas for children’s finger-painting parties.
Stewart and his wife adopted the horse from a Kennett Square facility that found her seemingly abandoned at an auction stable in New Holland. Police said she was covered in paint (guess Weston never bothered to clean her up) and “sore to the touch,” which might’ve led to the paintball theory.
Turns out Weston, who got the roughly 35-year-old horse in the late ’90s, turned her over to Philip Price of East Providence, Rhode Island, assuming he would euthanize her because of her poor quality of life (the horse’s eyesight and teeth were allegedly deteriorating).
But Price didn’t euthanize Lily – he kept her, and he was convicted Friday in New Holland of animal cruelty and other charges related to transporting a horse in poor condition.
Weston said the horse loved the finger-painting sessions — but we remain skeptical.
After Lily was found at the New Holland stables, she was cared for by Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square. Regardless of whether or not the finger painting was all fun and games, Lily’s right eye had to be removed and the New Bolton Center’s Dr. Rose Nolen-Walston told the Associated Press she was in need of emergency intensive care.
At least the story ends well. Lily will soon be joining the Stewart’s other happily rescued animals to romp in lush fields at the couple’s animal sanctuary at their Middleton, NJ Farm.
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