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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

How was Sarah Moulds found not guilty?

167 replies

DarkAndWild · 25/08/2023 18:50

The local Look North news has just repeatedly shown the video of her kicking and hitting her horse whilst saying she was found not guilty.
She was on the news reading her statement saying the footage was taken out of context.
What context would be correct to treat any animal that way??!!
Its absolutely sickening that she wasn’t found guilty.

OP posts:
Parsley1234 · 25/08/2023 18:51

It’s pretty incredible I can’t imagine anyone behaving like that and not bring guilty. At our yard the person would be thrown off just awful

Talapia · 25/08/2023 18:52

It's shocking that she has been found not guilty and sets a worrying precedent.

twistyizzy · 25/08/2023 18:52

A good lawyer?
I am disgusted that she was found not guilty. Blatant abuse, it is never acceptable to punch a horse anywhere but especially around the head
It sends a very bad message for anyone in the horse world who thinks that this is acceptable.

Isthisexpected · 25/08/2023 18:53

Because a vet for the defence was prepared to say no lasting damage was done...so apparently that's ok then.

tescocreditcard · 25/08/2023 18:53

twistyizzy · 25/08/2023 18:52

A good lawyer?
I am disgusted that she was found not guilty. Blatant abuse, it is never acceptable to punch a horse anywhere but especially around the head
It sends a very bad message for anyone in the horse world who thinks that this is acceptable.

Totally agree - she had a good lawyer.

CremeEggThief · 25/08/2023 18:55

The judge must believe it's ok to hit ponies when they're being naughty.😥

TheInterceptor · 25/08/2023 18:58

I presume the defence used the argument that horses are frequently physically chastised (spurs/whips etc.) and a woman's hand causes less damage? It obviously was wrong, what she did, but didn't meet the threshold of criminality.

hattie43 · 25/08/2023 18:58

Disgusting verdict . She is on video beating her horse up . In what world is that ever ok .

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 19:04

Im not really a horsey person/dont really understand horse issues but have read on threads over the years on various forums people advocating hitting horses. Ive never understood that.

Hawkins009 · 25/08/2023 19:06

Another reason to consider the abolishing jury trials and replacing them with more qualified experts.

twistyizzy · 25/08/2023 19:06

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 19:04

Im not really a horsey person/dont really understand horse issues but have read on threads over the years on various forums people advocating hitting horses. Ive never understood that.

Well they are plain wrong! You should never punch or hit a horse out of anger, especially around the head

loveourplanet · 25/08/2023 19:08

shocking

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 19:08

Wouldnt a horse feel frightened and therefore be psychologically damaged?

Therefore how can a vet say there is no ongoing damage?

And replacing juries with 'experts' wouldnt work in this case as the vet would be considered an expert wouldnt they?

Poivresel · 25/08/2023 19:20

I’m glad that at least she’s been dragged through the courts.
Imagine punching and kicking a horse and then standing outside a court and saying you’ve been vindicated.
She would do better to keep her mouth shut.
She hasn’t won a moral victory.
Imo the case has highlighted how much further we need to progress in the way we treat animals.

StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 19:24

I think there was no actual physical evidence the horse was harmed.

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 25/08/2023 19:25

God knows. It was a jury not a judge who cleared her.

I rode horses for 15 years and worked at a stables for two. Never once treated a horse like that and would have shouted at anyone who did.

Nasty gloating interview with her saying the case was brought on “falsehoods”. How can a video clearing showing her punching and kicking the horse be falsehoods? she feels vindicated and will obviously feels that’s a normal method of horse chastisement and will go on treating her horses like that.

she should be banned from keeping them.

bet she sues her ex employer for sacking her now.

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 25/08/2023 19:26

StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 19:24

I think there was no actual physical evidence the horse was harmed.

I didn’t know there had to be physical damage for cruelty to be proved? Is that true? Genuine question.

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 25/08/2023 19:27

Would be interesting to know what the verdict would have been if the jury had been horsey people! Maybe none horse people just assume as a horse/pony is big then that level of violence is ok?

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 25/08/2023 19:27

I actually watched the video for the first time today and… what the fuck?!
The pony had got loose, was stood still and she kicked it and slapped it round the face?! What a stupid cow. Tell yourself off for not checking your lorry ties don’t smack your pony round the face. Boiled my blood

BarelyLiterate · 25/08/2023 19:28

She was privately prosecuted by the RSPCA, a politicised ‘charity’ rather than by the CPS and was acquitted by a crown court jury, not a judge. They obviously accepted her explanation for the events which occurred that day.

Her employer sacked her before waiting for the outcome of legal proceedings. She was denied due process. Her career and her life have been destroyed as a result of trial by social media.
Is this really how we want our society to be run?

StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 19:28

@HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas
i honestly don’t know. But I read that it took 10 days for a vet to examine the horse - you could believe that any physical sign would have gone by then.
also I’m not sure how important a social media video is in course. It would be really difficult to prove it wasn’t a fake.

Potatooooooooo · 25/08/2023 19:31

Shocking. Cannot believe this verdict.

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 25/08/2023 19:43

StillWantingADog · 25/08/2023 19:28

@HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas
i honestly don’t know. But I read that it took 10 days for a vet to examine the horse - you could believe that any physical sign would have gone by then.
also I’m not sure how important a social media video is in course. It would be really difficult to prove it wasn’t a fake.

I don’t think she ever denied doing what she was videoed doing. In fact she said in court it was justified as the pony had been naughty. She denied it was cruelty. She denied she’d lost her temper.

Nemesias · 25/08/2023 19:46

BarelyLiterate · 25/08/2023 19:28

She was privately prosecuted by the RSPCA, a politicised ‘charity’ rather than by the CPS and was acquitted by a crown court jury, not a judge. They obviously accepted her explanation for the events which occurred that day.

Her employer sacked her before waiting for the outcome of legal proceedings. She was denied due process. Her career and her life have been destroyed as a result of trial by social media.
Is this really how we want our society to be run?

I’m ok with someone being shunned for animal cruelty - she’s on video beating her pony up - there’s no justification for that at all. None. So I’m ok with her losing her job and for people voicing their disgust with her

thedancingbear · 25/08/2023 19:47

BarelyLiterate · 25/08/2023 19:28

She was privately prosecuted by the RSPCA, a politicised ‘charity’ rather than by the CPS and was acquitted by a crown court jury, not a judge. They obviously accepted her explanation for the events which occurred that day.

Her employer sacked her before waiting for the outcome of legal proceedings. She was denied due process. Her career and her life have been destroyed as a result of trial by social media.
Is this really how we want our society to be run?

Meh. Someone who can’t control their hands around animals isn’t safe in charge of children.

the school has a duty of care, and that applies irrespective of what the jury has said