To ask Horsey people about this

[Fightyouforthatpie]

That woman who was filmed kicking and hitting the pony has been acquitted. I am in no way commenting on that - due process has been followed and she is entitled to that just like anyone else.
My question, as I am ignorant of this kind of thing, is, "is this sort of treatment in general normal and considered OK?"
I grew up in a rural area, but I can'r recall anyone treating their ponies and horses that way - on the other hand I am willing to accept I don't have the full picture.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-66605870

Definitely NOT ok, however it happens a lot. Many many horse owners seem to think a horse should and will do as it's told without thought for any underlying issues. Horses are labelled on a daily basis and unfortunately the BHS have ingrained a certain type of behaviour.

However many many others understand horses better and give them the best life they can.

It's disgusting what she did. I grew up around horses and still have a little old mare. She is a bit spoilt and therefore can have bad manners but I'd never treat her like that.

I've been on years though where that sort of behaviour would be 'normal'. Fortunately our current yard is very not like that.

• yards

That’s my experience too. I wouldn’t say everyone does it, or even the majority. But there are definitely people that do handle their horses like this.

My cousin and her DM who are horsey people (HOTY show etc) and cousin has her own horse have spoken about this to me and would never do this and condone it.

Most other country people I know wouldn’t harm a horse this way either.

Yard I was at was taken over by someone who thought it was OK. Everyone left very quickly.

No.

Actually as a child from age 8 to 13 I did ride at a local riding stables most Saturdays. I don’t recall seeing anyone hurt the horses but then I wasn’t really looking out for it either. Sometimes they were a bit brusque with then but no physical violence from what I recall. Lots of middle/upper class women/girls ran it and they could be a bit snobby if you didn’t know them.

j only left when I was kicked in the leg (thigh) by a horse (probably my own fault!) and I was getting a bit bored of it by then anyway.

Definitely not ok

So is it upper middle classes who do this more?

Fuck all to do with hunting. I've had a career as a freelance groom working primarily with hunt horses. I've hunted myself since I was small and most of the people I know hunt. Not one of them would do that to a horse - we are all experienced, dealing with big, fit, sometimes tricky horses day in and day out. Treating a horse like that is a sign of incompetence and inexperience and is not the way things should be done.
I've seen it a couple of times (actually not on hunt yards but showjumping) - I've sacked a member of staff for similar - but it is the exception.

This is the answer for all of the reasons set out in the post.

I have had horses for 37 years, and what she did was so wrong.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns

No. I don't think at all you can attempt a correlation between class and this behaviour! I've seen plenty of rough handling of horses and the vast majority of it has been on rough jumping yards and travellers treatment of their horses can be abysmal. Not to say upper class people don't beat their horses, just that bad horsemanship exists in every level of class. And generally, rich people own expensive animals. A good hunter is 30k - monetary value shouldn't come into it but let's face it, probably does.

I rode regularly for over 10 years and I never had “the need” to kick a horse like that! So in no way is it justified. I’d never treat any animal like that.

The people who enjoy such pastimes as illegal fox hunting are just the type who would do this sort of thing to their animals, be it hounds, horses or terriers. After all, if they gain pleasure from torturing wildlife, it’s not a great surprise. I grew up in a rural area and my parents taught in local schools. There was an overwhelming correlation between those who partook in hunting and shooting and those who abused their children and partners.

My horsey friends were appalled by this video but unsurprised that it happened during a fox hunt.

That Moulds woman shows herself to be a foul tempered aggressive thug.

She says she punished the pony for returning to her?

What level of idiotic is this.

I pity that pony and any other animal that is unfortunate to be under her ownership .

Bad tempered, aggressive people do sadly exist around horses- and dogs.

Some real bullies out there who like to take out their inadequacies against animals.

I know some horsey people who would say it's fine. The old 'you have to teach them straight away they are wrong or they'll get the better of you' kind of thing.

I also know a dog trainer who advocates choke chains for certain types of dogs. He makes a valid point though.

With all due respect @TinyRebel, I'm not the one calling people names.
And I was always in control of my horse, and always polite and friendly.
I don't hunt anymore as I don't ride. But I do love shooting and my gundog work - they will give you something else to insult me over, have fun.

@TinyRebel Well said!

I think no matter the result of this case, she will never get away with it in the public eye, nor should she.

@TinyRebel you are coming across as incredibly aggressive yourself calling people scum and swearing.
I hunt (trail NOT live), shoot and have gundog. I also would never hit or punch any of my animals and I am disappointed at her behaviour and the subsequent not guilty verdict.
Am I too scum?

I don’t need your ‘due respect’ and I think we can all draw our own conclusions about the sort of people who thoroughly enjoy blasting living creatures out of the sky with a shotgun.

That's okay @TinyRebel, I'd far rather enjoy blasting living creatures out of the sky than trot along and blindly eat my cheap chicken raised in appalling conditions. At least my living creatures are free range, have lived a decent life, are local and I've had the respect to not only kill them myself but pluck, draw and cook them to the best of my ability.
Not saying you eat cheap meat of course. I suspect you may be vegan.

Had horses all my life and throughout my family. Horses can be frustrating and stubborn and just plain arseholes when they want to be lol but I have never disciplined a horse in such a manner and neither have any of the people I know who own horses. They require patience, calm and love, not abuse.

Even the more stubborn ones, who do need a bit more of a firm hand and a bit of a talking to, should not be physically handled in such a way.

I’m astonished she got the verdict she did.