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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teacher filmed attacking her horse

771 replies

GrabbyAbbie · 09/11/2021 16:37

Just seen the footage of a woman attacking a horse after a "drag hunt"
She is a primary school teacher and a member of the pony club.
Aibu to think she should lose her job over this?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2021/11/09/foxhunter-filmed-slapping-and-kicking-horse-is-primary-school-teacher-15567946/amp/

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 10/11/2021 09:31

@GrabbyAbbie

I wouldn't want a person who could be aggressive to a vulnerable animal around my child, it's clear she has a nasty temper and was attacking the horse in front of young children. It does not paint her character in a good light at all.
Exactly. Animal cruelty aside (which is illegal and for which she should be punished), she seems to have no idea how to conduct herself in front of children. And she's a primary teacher. Hmm

If she's charged then it may well be gross misconduct and a firing offence. I hope it is.

Viviennemary · 10/11/2021 09:33

Of course the two things are related. A vicious nasty cruel bully. Punching and kicking a horse because she could. Recorded for all to see. Well done that person. I know what I saw.

IncompleteSenten · 10/11/2021 09:43

@Peacocking

The vegan comments above...the issue for some vegans is the hypocrisy I think. Some people are being outraged over this while paying other people to cause far greater, longer term and more severe terror and pain in other animals so they can eat them. Both sides agree that the treatment of the horse is unacceptable, but one side is really confused about the other side choosing to pay to have meat animals treated in a far worse way while complaining about this woman.
Yes. And there are different attitudes to take.
  1. Yes, I agree, the treatment of this horse is unacceptable. I agree with you that she should be prosecuted in accordance with the law. It's good when we agree that animals should not be abused.
  1. I bet you're tucking into steak right now, you've got no right to condemn this woman kicking and punching her horse if you eat meat! Shut up.

One brings people together.
One divides and creates hostility

One stands a chance of getting people who eat meat to really think about what that means.
One results in defensiveness and the resulting refusal to engage and claims of holier than thou vegetarians and vegans .

treguffin · 10/11/2021 09:43

@LittleMG

Just the sort of behaviour I would expect to have somebody who hunts with hounds
I'm sure the sabs saw lots of kind behaviour also but for some reason didn't publicise that.
Westfacing · 10/11/2021 09:45

I'm a city-dweller so haven't been around horses much - sorry to read here that this is not uncommon behaviour.

She really did seem to lose it, especially raising her leg to aim the kicks.

treguffin · 10/11/2021 09:47

@Westfacing

I'm a city-dweller so haven't been around horses much - sorry to read here that this is not uncommon behaviour.

She really did seem to lose it, especially raising her leg to aim the kicks.

Did you read the posts that said it wasn't common behaviour?
HarrietsChariot · 10/11/2021 09:51

I don't think the actions in themselves warrant her losing her job. The clip is very short and we don't know the events leading up to the incident, without knowing the full story it's impossible to make a decision.

I agree though that anyone who goes hunting, or films hunts for that matter, isn't a fit person to be a teacher.

Megan2018 · 10/11/2021 09:53

I live in the next village and my DD will go to the school eventually. I am a horse owner and hunt supporter but think what she did was awful and wrong. Hitting horses in the face is never acceptable. But I don’t think she should lose her job over it and I wouldn’t be unhappy for her to teach DD.
The community is very shocked. I don’t know her personally on more than nodding terms, but it’s a very small community.
I’m very upset for the Cottesmore though, they could really do without the press coverage.

WildExcuses · 10/11/2021 09:55

I don't think the actions in themselves warrant her losing her job. The clip is very short and we don't know the events leading up to the incident, without knowing the full story it's impossible to make a decision.

What events do you think could have happened leading up to this that would have justified punching and kicking a horse? Hmm

Westfacing · 10/11/2021 09:56

Treguffin I've read all the posts.

There were enough 'not uncommon' ones to indicate that this behaviour goes on more than I thought. They were mainly from 'horsey' posters who don't seem to have an axe to grind, as opposed to say anti-hunt sabs.

IntermittentParps · 10/11/2021 09:57

@HarrietsChariot

I don't think the actions in themselves warrant her losing her job. The clip is very short and we don't know the events leading up to the incident, without knowing the full story it's impossible to make a decision.

I agree though that anyone who goes hunting, or films hunts for that matter, isn't a fit person to be a teacher.

Sorry, what? What 'events leading up to the incident' might make it OK to physically (illegally) abuse a horse?

I can't agree that anyone who goes hunting isn't a fit person to be a teacher. But I do believe that anyone who knowingly deliberately hits and kicks animals isn't.

I'm sure the sabs saw lots of kind behaviour also but for some reason didn't publicise that.
I disagree with hunting but I don't like how this is being turned into an excuse to attack hunting by Chris Packham and others. I think the animal cruelty stands on its own and should be condemned on its own.

Cbtb · 10/11/2021 09:58

This

There is no way to live that is not harmful to the planet.

Don’t wear leather as it’s from animals - don’t wear pleather as it’s made from fossil fuels

Don’t wear wool as it’s from exploring sheep, don’t wear cotton as it’s polluting rivers to make it, don’t wear synthetics as washing then releases micro plastics into the water courses and kills marine life.

Don’t eat meat as it’s dead animals. Don’t drink milk as cows lactate due to forced insemination and having their babies taken. Don’t drink almond milk as it’s causing droughts and exploitation of bees. Don’t drink soy milk as it’s causing deforestation. Don’t eat cereal crops as birds are shot to protect the plants and heavy insecticide use to protect the monoculture is killing bees and all other pollinators and will kill the planet. Don’t eat anything grown in the ground as it’s either fertilised by animal manure (exploitation) or synthetic fertilisers from fossil fuels ( ok green manure exists but it uses too much fallow land so would lead to to much deforestation etc)

The way I see it is that human existence harms the planet. I think a lesser harm comes from eating enough meat to meet out protein requirements and the direct use of animal products such as wool and leather rather than the alternatives that seem more likely to ultimately cause the end of the world.

(If you don’t believe me try growing anything - like a lettuce or a carrot or a broad bean, dig the soil - disturbs the soil structure and kills worms - fertilise and either use fossil fuels or animal products (even read something recently that said don’t use your garden compost because it might upset hibernating hedgehogs), sew seeds - do you go for heirloom and know it will get diseases and need chemicals or f1 and know it’s destroyed biodiversity), water it (more water usage - bad) keep it warm (more fossil fuels - bad) and then watch a slug eat it or do you kill the slug (not vegan) and then watch greenfly destroy it - do you kill the greenfly and all the nice other insects with chemicals or pick them off one by one not vegan) or have no plants and starve……

No idea what this has to do with a horrid woman being mean to her horse tho

Bluntness100 · 10/11/2021 09:59

@treguffin

God some of these comments are so unbelievably tone deaf and smug it's almost making me feel sorry for the woman.
Do you understand she was repeatedly punching a pony on the head?
treguffin · 10/11/2021 10:03

Yes, she slapped it around the face. And it looked as though she kicked it as well. Awful behaviour. Still don't agree with her losing her job or her life ruined (and therefore her families life).

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 10/11/2021 10:09

@FreeBritnee

The awful thing is I worked with horses most of my life and what she did to the horse would hardly have raised an eyebrow in the circles I mixed in. I can see why she didn’t think much of it.
Agreed. Sad I used to frequently go to cattle markets with my parents as a child and it was normal and acceptable for the staff to send the animal round the pen by twisting its tail over its back and repeatedly hitting it over the back with a large stick. And these weren't just animals going for slaughter either, they were dairy cows going on to other farms etc.I used to sit with a knot in my stomach almost crying. I would imagine it still happens.
treguffin · 10/11/2021 10:12

The awful thing is I worked with horses most of my life and what she did to the horse would hardly have raised an eyebrow in the circles I mixed in. I can see why she didn’t think much of it

I find this very sad. Not sure where you worked but I've had reason to be on many competition yards and have never seen anyone do this or anything remotely like it.

Astrak · 10/11/2021 10:14

Retired child-protection s/w here. Research, together with my 50 years' professional experience indicates that there is a strong link between cruelty to animals and to children. Having just checked with
current research findings, there still are.
I wouldn't want any grandchildren of mine attending any institution where this woman was employed.

Prattypitel · 10/11/2021 10:18

The woman lost her job and will live in shame for a long time.perfect punishment for a totally vile behaviour towards an animal.

treguffin · 10/11/2021 10:18

You have no idea what any of the staff at your GDS school get up to in their spare time.

treguffin · 10/11/2021 10:19

@Prattypitel

The woman lost her job and will live in shame for a long time.perfect punishment for a totally vile behaviour towards an animal.
She hasn't lost her job. She's been suspended pending an investigation.
Derbee · 10/11/2021 10:28

She hasn't lost her job. She's been suspended pending an investigation

She HAS lost her job. There’s no way she will be able to return to teaching at a small primary school in a local community. The parents won’t have it.

treguffin · 10/11/2021 10:35

@Derbee

She hasn't lost her job. She's been suspended pending an investigation

She HAS lost her job. There’s no way she will be able to return to teaching at a small primary school in a local community. The parents won’t have it.

It's not up to the parents or the local community. She may resign due to that, but can't be legally sacked for it.
mbosnz · 10/11/2021 10:39

There's no excuse for kicking a horse like that, and even less for hitting it round the head. Idiot woman - way to make the poor animal head shy!

I see her Uncle is in the Daily Fail attempting to justify her 'discipline' of the horse.

All I see is a total lack of self discipline on her part, and a total loss of temper.

Any consequences as to loss of face and standing in the community are her own.

However, I totally disagree with death threats, and this must be very hard on her family - the ones that aren't attempting to justify her behaviour.

MrsColon · 10/11/2021 11:04

The witch hunts is awful - whilst her actions were abhorrent, she shouldn't be in fear for her physical safety and that of her children. That's unacceptable.

I'd not want someone who could do that to an animal teaching my young child, so I'm not sure about the sacking angle - presumably that's for her employer to decide, although I'd probably be looking for a new school/nursery if she keeps her job. Someone who does that to a defenceless animal in public clearly has anger management issues, which I'd not want to expose my child to.

FreeBritnee · 10/11/2021 11:07

@treguffin

The awful thing is I worked with horses most of my life and what she did to the horse would hardly have raised an eyebrow in the circles I mixed in. I can see why she didn’t think much of it

I find this very sad. Not sure where you worked but I've had reason to be on many competition yards and have never seen anyone do this or anything remotely like it.

You can find it sad and maybe in the last decade it’s changed but I worked in riding schools, competition yards, liveries and private yards and saw all sorts of things that would make you horrified. I think the worst offenders were the farriers actually although my understanding is the worst was the dealers who broke horses to sell on. I heard some fucking horrendous stories from girls that had worked on those yards.