Under the name Dreadhead Cowboy, Adam Hollingsworth often rides his horses through the streets of Chicago and has attended various protests on horseback, including in Minneapolis and in downtown Chicago after Black man George Floyd was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer May 25, 2020. He also brings his horses into Chicago neighborhoods, so community members, especially young children, can take a ride and share his love of his animals. Hollingsworth says he struggled with wrongful incarceration and a shooting injury before finding a new sense of purpose when his uncle Eddie Thomas introduced him to horses. “If a horse can change my life, I know for a fact that it can change other people’s lives,” Hollingsworth said.
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The Dreadhead Cowboy, aka Adam Hollingsworth, stands on his horse Prince on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago.
Sixteen-year-old Jay Hollingsworth, nephew of the Dreadhead Cowboy, Adam Hollingsworth, pets Bella inside her trailer on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Scott Pruitt lifts 4-year-old Stephanie Ingram onto the back of Prince, one of Adam Hollingsworth’s horses, on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood. It was her second time riding a horse.
Community members ride Prince and Bella, two of Hollingsworth’s horses on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Adam Hollingsworth rides his horse Unity down West Madison Street on June 25, 2020, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.
Alonna Archie pets Unity the horse as Adam Hollingsworth rides him down West Madison Street on June 25, 2020, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.
Adam Hollingsworth rides his horse Bella as he joins protesters in front of a line of police officers during a march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 30, 2020, in downtown Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth rides his horse Prince during a peace march from Gresham to Englewood along North Halsted Street on July 3, 2020, in Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth rides his horse Prince during a peace march from Gresham to Englewood along North Halsted Street on July 3, 2020, in Chicago.
Dreadhead Cowboy’s horse Prince, Adam Hollingsworth, grazes in an empty lot Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago.
People stop to pet Unity the horse as Hollingsworth rides him down West Madison Street on June 25, 2020, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Princess Marie pets Unity the horse as Adam Hollingsworth rides him down West Madison Street on June 25, 2020, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.
Adam Hollingsworth rides his horse Unity down West Madison Street on June 25, 2020, in the East Garfield Park of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth sprays down his horse Unity at the barn where Hollingsworth keeps his other horses on June 25, 2020, in a south suburb of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth, left, looks at a custom leather breastplate made for him by Joe Martine on June 25, 2020, in a south suburb of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth looks at a custom leather breastplate made for him by Joe Martine on June 25, 2020, in a south suburb of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth talks with a friend as his newest horse, Unity, gets shoes put on June 25, 2020, at a barn in a south suburb of Chicago.
Joel Castillo puts shoes on Unity, the newest horse of the Dreadhead Cowboy, Adam Hollingsworth, on June 25, 2020, at a barn in a south suburb of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth holds his 2-year-old son, A’kai, as they pet horses while Unity, Hollingsworth’s newest horse, gets shoes June 25, 2020, a at a barn in a south suburb of Chicago.
Aiiden Berry, 2, rides Prince, one of Adam Hollingsworth’s horses, and gets a high-five from Hollingsworth on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago.
Nine-year-old Desyre Pippens pets Prince, one of Hollingsworth’s horses, on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Natasha Martin, who said she was afraid of standing next to a horse, overcomes her fear and pets Prince, one of Adam Hollingsworth’s horses, on June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago. Hollingsworth’s son, 12-year-old Akil Hollingsworth, at right, held Prince and encouraged her to touch him.
12-year-old Akil Hollingsworth loads a saddle into the trailer Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth, left, and his friend Scott Pruitt talk Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago.
Adam Hollingsworth leads his horse Bella down a street on June 23, 2020, in Woodlawn.