Content warning: This article describes child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.
A shocking case of alleged sexual abuse has emerged out of Alabama, where a prominent traveling horse veterinarian, Gregory Ford, is accused of abusing a minor and then threatening the girl’s mother in text messages when she found out about the crime.
The investigation into Ford began after the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama received reports of the alleged sexual battery. The victim disclosed the abuse, which she said occurred while traveling with Ford, and also mentioned exchanging sexually explicit images with him. When the victim’s family, presumably her mother, discovered the ongoing abuse, the situation took a disturbing turn.
The threatening texts
Sheriff's deputies arrested Gregory Ford, 52, an equine veterinarian, after a teen girl reported crimes he allegedly committed against her. Investigators believe Ford may have additional victims. Read more: https://t.co/gx1ooLJeWV pic.twitter.com/DiZ8dVCvOF
— WCJB TV20 News (@WCJB20) September 25, 2025
According to Alabama news outlet WAFF, once confronted, Ford sent a series of menacing text messages to the victim’s mother, attempting to justify the relationship and expressing his intent to marry the child. The texts revealed a profound level of narcissism and delusion, admitting to the abuse while deflecting blame.
One message reportedly stated: “LISTEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER AND OUR LOVE STORY. SHE IS MY SOULMATE,” attempting to romanticize a relationship with a minor.
Another text aggressively shifted responsibility: “You’ve absolutely humiliated, broken and shamed the most perfect of God’s creations (this is on you, not me, she and I would have just run off together at 18 anyway).”
The exchange culminated in an explicit death threat against the mother, which read: “If you choose to continue your crusade, I have already paid a dear friend from the CIA to long rifle a bullet in your chest.”
Ford’s arrest
Ford, 52, operates a traveling practice, frequently visiting horse farms and horse shows across the southern United States, including numerous stops in Alabama. Based in the Houston, Texas, area, Ford and his wife reportedly owned and ran a horse boarding and training facility.
His profession required him to be constantly on the move, which authorities believe may have facilitated the alleged two-year sexual relationship with a teen victim, who was working as his assistant.
Due to the interstate nature of Ford’s travels, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) became involved in the case. The victim provided detailed accounts of the abuse, including an instance that occurred at Ford’s residence in Marion County, Florida, in May 2025. This led Marion County Sheriff’s Office detectives to take the lead on the arrest.
Authorities took Ford into custody on a warrant for sexual battery of a minor. He is currently being held at the Marion County Jail in Florida without bond as the investigation continues.
The multi-state and traveling nature of his practice has led authorities in both the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI to express concern and publicly urge anyone with information to come forward, as they suspect there may be additional victims across the United States.
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
