Latest Lake Mead Body Belongs to Vegas Veterinarian Filmed Kicking a Horse

Posted on: April 21, 2025, 05:34h. 

Last updated on: April 21, 2025, 07:09h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.
  • A body was discovered in Lake Mead over the weekend belonging to a Las Vegas veterinarian reported missing more than two weeks ago
  • Before he vanished, the vet ignited a social media firestorm when video emerged of him kicking a young horse in the head

A body recovered at Lake Mead over the weekend belonged to Shawn Frehner, the National Park Service confirmed Monday. ID’ed through dental records, Frehner, 56, was a Las Vegas veterinarian who disappeared on April 6, after he was filmed abusing a horse he was summoned to help castrate.

A Las Vegas veterinarian kicks a stallion he was summoned to help castrate on April 2. Now that veterinarian is dead. (Image: Shawna Gonzalez)

At the time of his disappearance, Frehner faced felony animal abuse charges after Pahrump, Nev. resident Shawna Gonzalez filed a complaint with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Pahrump Valley Times.

On April 3, Gonzalez called Frehner to help castrate some rescued stallions housed at her ranch. During the process, she was alarmed to discover Frehner kicking one horse while he was on the ground. When she uploaded video of the incident to social media, the clip went viral.

“The abuse and cruelty my horse suffered on 4/3/2025 was inhumane, disgusting, appalling, and the most hurtful thing and from the hands of a vet that I trusted,” Gonzalez wrote in the post, adding that the horse was being treated for abrasions at a veterinary hospital.

Damage Control Fails

Frehner would no doubt rather be remembered for how he treated this horse in a photo posted to his Facebook page. (Image: Facebook)

Frehner attempted to explain his actions in a later-deleted Facebook post, writing: “I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all. It 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.”

Then he added: “But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened.”

Frehner’s attempt at damage control failed, as his public Facebook page was deluged with negative comments.

“How do you feel about the video of you kicking a baby horse in the mouth?!” Sasha Tyburski wrote.

“You are one sick bastered (sic) that doesn’t know shit about horses,” added Gloria Finn.

According to Frehner’s website, he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ohio State University in 1997 and began his equine business a year later.

The Las Vegas coroner’s office has yet to release Frehner’s cause of death and it is not known whether authorities believe he took his own life or was the victim of foul play.

No arrests have been made in the case so far.