Primary teacher filmed kicking and hitting horse found innocent

[SushiSuave]

I never start threads about things in the news but this has shocked me. How on earth has this woman been found innocent when she was filmed kicking and hitting the horse?! I don't believe she caused lasting injury but surely being found innocent is condoning treating animals in this way?

Sorry - DM link www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12445473/Primary-school-teacher-39-not-guilty-animal-cruelty-footage-showed-punching-kicking-horse.html#comments-12445473

Is it because the vet who examined Bruce - 10 days later- found no evidence of injury?

I was surprised to see this as well, but I can only suppose there is more to it than what was reported in the press/social media.

Yes it all seems to be quite vague and no details on what was actually said in court.

We don’t have all the evidence, so we can’t really judge. I feel for her as she was hounded in the press & on social media.

It reads that the horse went 'on a jolly' by himself down the road, which I can appreciate is dangerous both for the horse and others, so she 'chastised' him for it. I'm not sure I'd chastise an animal like that, but I've never owned a horse, so its not my place to comment. The pictures that were/have been published look awful, but, that's what the jury decided and they had far more information.

And yes, I agree, I do feel for her if she's been found innocent, but lost her job and has had people making death threats.

I think the obvious concern is that if this is how she chastises a horse, how on earth does she charities the children in her care? Not that I think in any way she would ever hit a child but I just feel it says a lot about your personality if you think behaviour like this is ever acceptable. Even more so when done on public.

Disgusted by this outcome. An examination 10 days later should be no basis for this finding, it's way too delayed. She's a nasty piece of work who deserved the public outcry. I wouldn't want my children to be taught by an animal abuser, it's right that she lost her job.

She violently took out her temper on an animal. The fact she didn’t leave marks that could be seen 10 days later doesn’t negate that.

I think I'd need to hear from someone who knows about horses, how they are usually disciplined when they do something wrong. Obviously horses shouldn't be galivanting about by themselves, and it's not like you can verbally reason with them, but I'm clueless on how they are usually trained/disciplined. Albeit I would be surprised if physically hitting/slapping them around the face was par for the course.

I could ride before I could walk and grew up with horses and ponies.

There is never any reason to hit one in the face or anywhere. She lost her temper and struck the pony.

No there was no lasting injury but she manhandled and abused him.

She’s foul. I hope no one ever forgets.
Her poor animals should be removed from her care. I’ve grown up with horses etc. she punched it in the face!

Reassuring that more are agreeing that the decision was wrong! I can not understand how the jury can justify their decision.

Horses are sensitive animals who react instinctively to events, not rationally and they learn by habit and training, not violence. Just as it is no longer acceptable to beat dogs, cats or children, it isn't ever acceptable to beat a horse for some misbehaviour, judged on human terms.
I think it's awful that this woman got away with beating the horse, it's horrible and I'm guessing that she got away with it because few people understand horses now and the jury will have thought they couldn't therefore judge, as some posters have said here.
It used to be that if your dog wouldn't come back when called, people would beat the dog when they eventually got hold of it, so the dog learned that if it came back, it would be beaten so the habit of not coming back was reinforced. That's how horses and other animals think. So sad how they get treated.

They have three days more information than you. They also probably didn’t get it from the daily mail.

How can you presume guilt when you weren't even in court?!

It must be a legal technicality surely? It’s very clear from the photo that she’s actually punched him, with a clenched fist, in the face. Again, I don’t know enough about the law, but maybe it has to leave a mark to be illegal? Wasn’t smacking children similar, in that it was against the law if it left a visible mark? Clearly if that’s the case, the law needs changing.

When is punching a horse in the face acceptable? Just wondering

She behaved disgracefully.

Disgraceful that this was the outcome, though not surprised.
these people are never prosecuted.
glad she isn't around kids! Id remove mine if she were the teacher, don't want them thinking this is the way you treat animals.
i have no sympathy, ill save it for the poor horse.
my animals misbehave, i don't give them a kicking.

She lost her temper, it's quite clear. And she pulled him forcefully into the truck afterwards (she used this in her defence - "he followed me into the truck" - poor animal was too afraid not too!).

I too would not want her teaching my children.

Agree that there is never any reason to hit a horse/ pony like that and of course it’s counterproductive in terms of behaviour.

Sadly I think it’s quite a widespread practice, we have a retired polo pony who was brought over from Argentina. She’s in her late 20’s and I have stroked her and given her treats every day for over 10 years now. Every single time my hand is anywhere near her face she reacts as though she’s about to be hit - she will clearly never forget her maltreatment.

I can see the video of her kicking and punching the horse.
I dont need to be in the judiciary to know that it's wrong.
Just because it doesnt leave a physical mark doesnt make it right.
I had horses, I never treated them like this.
If she can do this to a horse, she should not be around children. She lost her temper, you can see that in the video, fine ok, we all lose our temper sometimes. But we dont all take it out on an animal.
I cannot believe she got away with it.

Disgusting witch. You should NEVER hit an animal. As for doing that to a horse, what a stupid, evil cow. it will just panic them. She must have had friends in high places to get away with that.