Video game players around the U.S have been struck by a horse grooming disorder caused by the release of Red Dead Redemption 2.

In the long-awaited sequel from Rockstar Games players are encouraged to care for their horse through regular feeding, general encouragement, and frequent brushing and grooming. This has led to a shockingly large amount of people committing unwanted horse care.

The latest Rockstar game has become a controversial issue in the equestrian community. While some believe that horse riding popularity is at an all-time high, many claim that the game gives an unrealistic depiction of what horse ownership is like, and the importance of being a responsible horse owner.

A farmer in Montana recently found several Red Dead Redemption 2 players breaking into his stable, to feed his horses and brush their manes.

“I woke up one night hearing strange noises out of my barn, as I got closer I heard people telling my horses they were good boys” says Montana farmer Dean Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun said he was deeply disturbed by the intruders, and hopes that video game makers in the future will be more aware of the effects their games can have on impressionable people.

Over the past decade horses have seen an increasingly large role in video games. It is no surprise that the prominent presence of horses in video games is being blamed for the rise of irresponsible horseplay. It was only a matter of time before a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 came along to stoke the burning desires for video game players to care for horses.