AMERICAN FALLS — Power County investigators and a local veterinarian determined that the suspicious death of a mustang mare in that county Sunday morning was a tragic accident and that the horse inflicted the wounds on itself.

Kim Clark operates A Little Piece of Heaven on Fish Hatchery Road, the wild horse preserve where the mustang mare, Dee, was being held and cared for pending transport to a new owner.

Clark said an autopsy was performed on the animal, and pieces of wood were found inside each of the two deep wounds on the horse. Dee sustained a blow to the face that shattered the nasal cavity and a deep wound in her gut.

“Although the police believed her death was suspicious as did we, they now believe she did it to herself," Clark said, "and I have to go along with those findings"

Clark said all donations made to a GoFundMe account for a reward in the case are being returned.

She found the horse dead inside a pasture at the 90-acre ranch Sunday from what appeared to be stab wounds.

The pregnant mare was one of eight wild horses rescued from slaughter in the state of Washington. Dee had been adopted, and her new owner was picking her up later that day.

While Clark doesn’t feel any better about losing the mustang, she said she’s glad to know that a human being didn’t inflict the wounds.

“Every time the dogs barked at night I was afraid that they were coming back to do it again," Clar said. "It is a relief in a way. I thank the police and the vet for doing such a good job. I thank everyone for their support and well wishes. It was just a horrible accident.”