Farm manager doubts story horse bit Pence: report

After Vice President Pence told a story to House Republicans this week about being bit by champion racing horse American Pharoah, a farm manager present when Pence visited the horse appeared to doubt the story. 

Addressing GOP lawmakers at the House GOP retreat in Baltimore on Friday, Pence said the famed Triple Crown winner bit his arm so hard he “almost collapsed” during a visit in March 2018.

“I just gritted my teeth and smiled,” Pence said. “Because you know what, in our line of work, you’re gonna get bit sometimes, but you keep fighting forward.”

{mosads}But farm manager Dermot Ryan, who was there when Pence was presented with an American Pharoah halter, said Friday that the horse is “sweet” and that it would be out of character for American Pharoah to bite someone, the McClatchy news group reported.

“If he gave someone a nasty bite, I’d know it,” Ryan said. He said the farm was “very honored” to have the vice president visit and called him “very pleasant.”

Pence was visiting the farm on behalf of Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who was then running against former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath. McGrath is now challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Barr invited Pence to meet the racehorse, and his spokeswoman Jodi Whitaker confirmed to the McClatchy news group that Pence “showed off [a bruise] on Air Force Two.” 

The Hill has reached out to Pence for comment.