Dreadhead Cowboy's Horse In Critical Condition After Expressway Protest

The “Dreadhead Cowboy” who rode his horse down a busy Chicago highway — shutting it down for about seven miles — said he’d “do it again,” despite animal cruelty charges.

Since the ride down the Dan Ryan Expressway on Monday (September 21), what was intended as a “Kids Lives Matter” demonstration, the horse has been in critical condition and might have to be put down, WTTW and other outlets have reported.

Also dubbed the “Census Cowboy” for teaming up with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to bolster census participation, the “Dreadhead Cowboy” stood his ground on his decision to ride his horse down the highway days after his arrest.

“Would I do it again? Yes I’d do it again,” said "Dreadhead Cowboy" Adam Hollingsworth, 33. “I’ve been in jail, I had a background, I’m not perfect…That was something worth going to jail for.”

A Facebook Live video as Hollingsworth took off onto the highway has since garnered more than 225,000 views as of Friday afternoon (September 25).

Hollingsworth said during a press conference Thursday (September 24) that he “had to make a statement,” even though that statement ultimately got him charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal, reckless conduct, disobeying officers and trespassing on the expressway. His bond was set at $25,000.

Hollingsworth said, however, that he didn’t mean any harm to his horse. He called himself an animal love multiple times during the press conference, according to WTTW.

Two vets determined that the horse suffered “a great deal.” Hollingsworth wants to hire a lawyer and have another vet examine the horse, WTTW reported.

“The people that don’t know anything about horses, from looking from the outside in, you would think that what I did was cruelty to (an) animal,” Hollingsworth said. “But if you go to the racetrack (it’s) 100 times worse. If you go to the circus, worse. It’s way worse than what I do to my horse.”

“Lori come help me,” Hollingsworth said of his continued Kids Lives Matter efforts. “I can’t do it alone.”

Photo: Getty Images