PORTERSVILLE — Kenny Albert’s beloved horse was killed Tuesday when a suspected drunken driver traveled off Route 488, sheared off a telephone pole and hit the animal in an open, 11-acre field.

The horse, 16-year-old Sierra, was dead before Albert got to the pasture, which is three minutes from his house.

State Police Trooper Jason Frances said the first call to emergency services was about 6 p.m. When he arrived, a pickup was about 100 yards into the pasture.

The driver — Douglas Ebeling, 56, of Portersville — was alone and was taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.

Frances said his investigation is ongoing, but Ebeling could face drunken driving charges if the toxology tests show he was intoxicated at the time of the collision.

Frances said Ebling lives not far from the pasture, which is owned by a Zane Stevenson. Ebeling allegedly was on his way home when the accident occurred.

Albert said he first got a call from the barn owner, saying the fence was down and he was out of town. When he arrived, he looked on the road to see if any horses got loose.

But Seirra, a black and white paint Tennessee walker, was in the pasture.

“We’d really bonded. Like as much as you would bond with a dog,” he said. “I’d ride by the pasture and call her name and she’d pick up her head. She was just a beautiful horse.”

Sierra, his third horse, joined the family four years ago.

Albert, 59, spent hours every Sunday riding Seirra at Moraine State Park.

“It’s so peaceful and therapeutic. You’re just at one with nature,” he said, noting his entire family is devastated by this loss.