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?

The very fact that there were death threats should have made the Jury and the Judge understand that hitting an animal is considered by society as being completely unacceptable and that many members of the public were upset and or angry at her behaviour.

Instead they appear to have thought that she's been punished enough by the public outcry!

The photo of the punch alone is shocking enough.

The only time it's acceptable to punch an animal is when its jaw is around someone's limb.

Yes I do @twistyizzy

Why do you think you know more about this case than the jury who've seen all the evidence and the vet who examined the animal?

I have a great big lump of a highland pony. If I attacked him like that, I wouldn't leave any lasting damage. But he would be terrified and THAT is abuse! She took her temper out on her animal because they were being filmed, she's a nasty bitch. My boy has wandered off when on my yard if I have forgotten to tie him up properly. Do you know what my reaction was? I jogged after him, picked up the lead rope, led him back to where I wanted him to tie him up securely, while telling him he is a good boy for coming with me. That is all the pony did, wander off a few steps. He wasn't being nasty or behaving badly. Yes, having a loose horse is potentially dangerous but he was loose due to handler error. He did not need chastising. Beating an animal regularly (and I don't believe for a second this was a one off) has long term phycological consequences.

The evidence is in the video! How anyone can question that is beyond me. There can never, ever be an excuse to hit an animal like that. Shame on her.

Because we have eyes

Juries are not infallible. Especially not one made up of 11 men who may have had a bit of a hard on for poor beleaguered pretty sarah.

I don't think I know more. In fact, I've said it's all very vague in terms of the evidence. But I don't need to see or hear any more to form the opinion that what she did was wrong and cruel, and deserves a punishment.

Because people better qualified than you heard all the evidence snd knew the law

I saw the video of her punching kicking and hitting her horse ,that should be enough to have the horse removed from her ownership and for her to banned from riding horses for life .
she’s bleating on the front page of daily Mail about how unfair it all is and what she has lost .
her family and friends and ex work colleagues must be utterly disgusted with her

Not Guilty does not mean she's Innocent - we all have eyes , we can see what she is doing .

Amd looking at that pony's body language - head up , eyes closed , he's trying to protect himself . I would not be shocked if that is not the first time he's had to dodge a blow

@ZolaBudd they were 12 members of a random jury they could have known more, they could have known less. They certainly were not a panel of 12 animal behaviour experts.

Given that a horse twitches when a fly lands on it I'm fairly certain in felt that smack to the face.

I'm glad that a) she lost her job and b)my child was not in the class of a an adult with a temper like that.

Yet again the law in our land let’s us all down ,who the fuck actually decided she wasn’t guilty,they should have to explain themselves

The very fact that there were death threats should have made the Jury and the Judge understand that hitting an animal is considered by society as being completely unacceptable and that many members of the public were upset and or angry at her behaviour

Unfortunately though, that’s not how the justice system works. A jury can’t find someone guilty because members of the public are upset and society considers it unacceptable. You have to actually break the law. The fact she’s been found innocent suggests the actual law isn’t specific enough when it comes to animal cruelty and that needs to change. If a video of that nature isn’t enough to convict, that needs fixing. I’d be amazed if the jury and everyone in that court room didn’t find it upsetting, the Judge even commented on how difficult a case it was, but it seems even with such cast iron evidence, punching a horse in the face isn’t actually a crime in this country. I find that shocking.

My DD is taught about pain/stress markers in horses in her Ponh Club training. She identified 4 markers from this photo and said she would have serious concerns about its welfare. She is 11 yrs old.
Unless the jury had BHS or equivalent training how could they be more qualified (your words not mine)?

Goodness me - think it through. Of course juries shouldn't have to explain themselves. They are anonymous or no one would ever convict for fear of reprisals.

This lack of understanding of or respect for the judicial system is shocking.

Thank God we have a proper justice system rather than mob rule vigilantes.

I'm also pretty shocked she wasn't found guilty based on that video!

The opinion of the public is not justice.

Again this lack of respect and understanding of the system is worrying.

She was on camera attacking the poor animal. How much more evidence was needed. Oh and yes I can and will judge anyone who hurts defenceless animals. I'm disgusted at her and the jury. It makes me wonder were they paid off

This is madness. They listened to three days' of evidence. They received direction from the judge.

I don't think the video shows something acceptable but who are you to judge the jury?

Errr... no. Juries are made up of completely random members if the public - not qualified animal welfare experts.

I’ve had a horse and would never punch it in the face. They are big strong animals but this was an angry outburst.

A foals mother would give it a little kick in the ribs to behave, not smash it in the face. This is what we were taught to do if the situation became dangerous and they were misbehaving, and it worked, my little kick is nothing compared to a horse. I can vouch for that, mine kicked me, launched me in the air and broke my arm.