The city order says that the footage shows that the horse was scared and concludes that the situation was an "actual threat" to public health and safety — enough to warrant the revocation of the lounge's business license.

At the news conference, Gelber recalled his first thought after watching the footage: "What kind of idiot would do something like this?"

The city manager, Jimmy Morales, who issued the order revoking the nightclub's business licence, added, "I was disgusted and offended that any legitimate businessperson would think this was an appropriate action to take."

Officials at Mokai Lounge could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday night.

The authorities would not discuss how the animal got inside the club, why it was taken there or other information about their investigation. But Melissa Berthier, a spokeswoman for the city, said in an email Saturday that the police had located the horse and had determined it to be "healthy and safe."