Page 2 | How was Sarah Moulds found not guilty?

DarkAndWild · 2023-08-25T17:50:05+00:00

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.

Bestivalfun · 25/08/2023 19:52

I agree, whether the law thinks it is OK to use a horse as a punch bag or not, I do not want someone around my child who is incapable of controlling their emotions and violent. I doubt people would be supporting her if she had done the same to one of her students in the classroom.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 25/08/2023 20:01

Surprising considering the outrage that followed the slap on the arse a trainer gave a horse in the Pentathlon at the Olympics in Japan.

Hitting a horse round the face it totally reprehensible and I hope karma gets her in the form of a bad tempered Irish mare.

Rosiesmum23 · 25/08/2023 20:07

Disgraceful behaviour from this woman, I pity the poor animals she has in her care. It's right she lost her job as a teacher, who would want someone as clearly unhinged as her in charge of their children.

Original poster

DarkAndWild · 25/08/2023 20:09

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.

Yes I was quite please her face was plastered all over the news.
I was especially please at how many times the news showed the footage of her hitting the horse. Not to see it p, because it was upsetting, but I feel they were very much making a point the not guilty verdict was appalling tbh.

OP posts:

ArcticBells · 25/08/2023 20:10

Not guilty but just by being plastered all over the papers (I'm miles away from her) hopefully she will suffer adequately.

dodobookends · 25/08/2023 20:17

I have watched the footage via the BBC website and I am appalled by her behaviour.

Who on earth decided she was not guilty? If she'd smacked a child around the face like that, the verdict would have been somewhat different I think.

It was assault. Why should the fact that the victim was a horse make any difference? Disgraceful woman.

MidnightOnceMore · 25/08/2023 20:20

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 agree with this concern.

The video was very shocking/upsetting and I do not condone. In addition this case had thrown up some real concerns about social media, death threats and children being threatened.

HeddaGarbled · 25/08/2023 20:30

Aren’t all horses “trained” using physical methods, though? Opinions will obviously vary about where the line is between reasonable and unreasonable physical control and she and/or her legal team were canny using the emotive “risk to children” argument.

Before you all attack me for the above comment, yes, I think she was way over the line between reasonable and unreasonable. I’m just trying to make sense of the verdict.

KittyKingdom · 25/08/2023 20:39

Grotesque and now there’s the aftermath for everyone with horses or rides that ensues. Better take horses off the hobbies section off your CV or else get labeled violent or tolerant of violence to animals. Thanks jury.

twistyizzy · 25/08/2023 20:43

HeddaGarbled · 25/08/2023 20:30

Aren’t all horses “trained” using physical methods, though? Opinions will obviously vary about where the line is between reasonable and unreasonable physical control and she and/or her legal team were canny using the emotive “risk to children” argument.

Before you all attack me for the above comment, yes, I think she was way over the line between reasonable and unreasonable. I’m just trying to make sense of the verdict.

The fundamental difference is whether you use positive or negative reinforcement.
I personally use positive reinforcement eg release of pressure/praise etc but I know not everyone does. There is a growing movement against abuse/negative training methods which is being spearheaded by some of the leading trainers in the UK however where there are animals + money there will sadly always be abuse. The best we can do is to speak out against abuse/abusive training methods whenever we see them and campaign for change.

XelaM · 25/08/2023 20:54

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.

Yes, she is not doing herself any favours. Awful awful woman. Unbelievable verdict.

XelaM · 25/08/2023 20:55

HeddaGarbled · 25/08/2023 20:30

Aren’t all horses “trained” using physical methods, though? Opinions will obviously vary about where the line is between reasonable and unreasonable physical control and she and/or her legal team were canny using the emotive “risk to children” argument.

Before you all attack me for the above comment, yes, I think she was way over the line between reasonable and unreasonable. I’m just trying to make sense of the verdict.

I have seen some harsh trainers, but I have never ever seen anyone slap and punch a horse in the face!

TyrannosaurusSex · 25/08/2023 20:56

release of pressure

This is negative reinforcement. The use of the words negative or positive in training methods refers to addition or subtraction - not to good or bad.

Ie - negative reinforcement is the removal of something the animal doesn't like, as a 'reward'. So the release of a pressure the horse does not like.

Not trying to be not picky but I think there is genuine confusion about this that leads to some trainers being able to say they only use positive methods and this not being clear if they mean

A) only nice things
Or
B) positive reinforcement (adding something the animal likes) and positive punishment (adding something they don't like, such a shouting or scaring them).

Canadagoosling · 25/08/2023 21:00

I'm not an animal lover and I don't know horses that well but her actions made me feel nauseous. I'm shocked she was found not guilty- I simply don't understand it. The video evidence is right there.

And then she cries about how her life was ruined.... I don't think animal abusers should be teaching children so rightly so.

twistyizzy · 25/08/2023 21:00

TyrannosaurusSex · 25/08/2023 20:56

release of pressure

This is negative reinforcement. The use of the words negative or positive in training methods refers to addition or subtraction - not to good or bad.

Ie - negative reinforcement is the removal of something the animal doesn't like, as a 'reward'. So the release of a pressure the horse does not like.

Not trying to be not picky but I think there is genuine confusion about this that leads to some trainers being able to say they only use positive methods and this not being clear if they mean

A) only nice things
Or
B) positive reinforcement (adding something the animal likes) and positive punishment (adding something they don't like, such a shouting or scaring them).

You are correct and I over simplified it for any lay person reading the post. Maybe I should have been more precise in my explanation

StarDolphins · 25/08/2023 21:02

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?

Yes, fine by me. I’m really glad she lost her job & career. Cruelty or hitting of any animal is abhorrent. She’s vile & disgusting.

XelaM · 25/08/2023 21:08

StarDolphins · 25/08/2023 21:02

Yes, fine by me. I’m really glad she lost her job & career. Cruelty or hitting of any animal is abhorrent. She’s vile & disgusting.

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I agree. By definition "bad character" includes acquittals as well. The video (and her subsequent statement) is clear evidence of her character. I hope she's unemployable.

CrazyArmadilloLady · 25/08/2023 21:09

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?

Pretty easy ‘out’ on this one - she could have just not hit the horse….?

Cincinnatus · 25/08/2023 21:12

At least she has been named and shamed. That video will never go away.

Poor little horse. I felt so sorry for him. It doesn’t matter that he’s apparently ‘healthy’. He can’t bloody talk! Imagine what she does in private.

Viviennemary · 25/08/2023 21:32

Couldn't believe it either. How is kicking and punching a horse acceptable. It isn't.

iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 25/08/2023 21:40

The video was really upsetting

You could see the anger in her face

Awful behaviour and very disappointing outcome

cavalier · 25/08/2023 21:46

Abusive to that poor horse and a huntswoman … vile .. I can’t watch the video .. wth was the jury seeing that we havnt ! ..

SirChenjins · 25/08/2023 21:57

Vile excuse for a human being - I’m glad she feels her life has been ruined. Anyone in this day and age who believes that this is the right way to discipline an animal and has such little self control deserves everything they get. Everyone can see her for what she is, regardless of the verdict. Revolting woman.

Todaywego · 25/08/2023 22:45

It's awful because it's now giving the green light for people to justify abuse of horses and other animals. It's a shame that horses suffer pain in silence. If a dog was treated like that it would be likely to be wailing and whimpering, then the result would have been different I'm sure. I'm not sure about her losing her job, but she should definitely be banned from owning horses.

Knight7 · 25/08/2023 22:53

Very upset and disturbed by what this cruel, vile, nasty woman did to that poor pony with no one to defend it; I cannot believe she got away with it, unbelievable.