A former teacher who was filmed kicking and slapping a horse has been cleared of animal cruelty charges, reports Independent.
Sarah Moulds was found not guilty of causing needless suffering to a protected animal, a grey pony she owned named Bruce.
She was filmed hitting an animal on November 6, 2021, and a month later she lost her job as a primary school teacher.
After a three-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court, a jury of 11 men and one woman acquitted the 39-year-old after just five hours of deliberation.
Ms Molds and several friends and family who supported her throughout the proceedings cried after the verdict was announced.
The jury learned that Ms Moulds had owned this little pony horse for two and a half years when she joined the Cottesmore Hunt, one of Britain’s oldest fox herds, at the time of the incident.
Ms Moulds said the horse unexpectedly “took off” while unhitching the horses, causing him to go “on a jolly” on the road for 25-30 meters at Drift in Gunby, Lincolnshire.
As Bruce returned to the stall, the hunter attacked Ms. Moulds, kicking the horse in the chest and punching him four times in the face before turning him back to the stall.
Prosecutor Hazel Stevens said Bruce was “immediately chastised” for his misconduct and suffered “suffered physically and mentally” from Ms Moulds’ “unnecessary and counter-productive” actions, reports Independent.
Bruce was taken to the vet 10 days after the incident and was found to be “in very good health” and still lives a “wonderfully idyllic life” with Ms Moulds in Somerby, Melton Mowbray.
In giving evidence, Ms Moulds stated that she and her children had received death threats and that her life had “torn to pieces as a result of that four-second decision”, reports Independent.
She said she intended to “briefly shock” Bruce to “discipline him quickly” for running away, which she believes could have serious consequences for both Bruce and the child riding him.
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