He changed it out of fear. He did not want to deal with the claims of racism and bigotry that he and his family would face. Not worth it.
THAT is what is going on right now in almost every situation.
Want your kids going to school and be called racists, bigots, "you are just like your MF dad"? For years, maybe? Your pretty wife gets the same treatment only worse?
Also people are being suspended/fired for less than this (eg soccer player in LA his wife "liked" a Tweet from somebody else... he apologized then still got fired).
RE the horse, the whole organization does not want to deal with this issue, its much much easier to suspend this horse owner. Yep.