Cleared of Animal Cruelty: Teacher's Horse Slap Case

author: FutureCar Staff    

A former teacher has been acquitted of an animal cruelty charge after being filmed kicking and slapping a horse. Sarah Moulds, who owned the grey pony named Bruce, was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. The incident occurred on November 6, 2021, and resulted in Moulds losing her job as a primary school teacher a month later.

The trial took place at Lincoln Crown Court and lasted three days. The jury, consisting of 11 men and one woman, deliberated for just over five hours before delivering the verdict. Moulds, along with her friends and family who supported her throughout the proceedings, became emotional upon hearing the outcome.

Recorder Graham Huston expressed his gratitude to the jury for their careful and thorough deliberation, acknowledging the difficulty of the case. He commended their attention to detail and dedication.

The court heard that Moulds had owned Bruce, a child's pony, for two and a half years prior to the incident. They were participating in the Cottesmore Hunt, one of Britain's oldest foxhound packs at the time. Moulds claimed that the horse unexpectedly bolted while being untacked, running down the road for 25 to 30 meters before returning to the horse box.

As Bruce returned to the horse box, a hunt saboteur filmed Moulds kicking the horse in the chest and slapping him four times in the face. The prosecution argued that Bruce suffered physically and mentally as a result of Moulds' actions, which they deemed unnecessary and counterproductive.

Moulds was subsequently dismissed from her teaching position in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and faced charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 brought by the RSPCA. An equine vet testified in court, stating that Bruce exhibited fear in the video, which the prosecution argued constituted suffering caused by Moulds. However, the vet admitted that there were no visible external injuries on Bruce, and internal injuries could only have been confirmed through a post-mortem examination.

Ten days after the incident, Bruce was examined by a vet and found to be in good health. He continues to live a peaceful life with Moulds in Somerby, Melton Mowbray.

Moulds testified that she and her children received death threats as a result of the incident and claimed that her life had been shattered by a split-second decision. She stated that her intention was to briefly shock Bruce and discipline him for running off, as she believed it could have had severe consequences for both the horse and the child riding him.

In a tearful statement outside the court, Moulds expressed that the video had been taken out of context. She highlighted the dangers of misinformation spreading rapidly in the digital age, leading to premature judgments and jeopardizing the lives and careers of innocent individuals. Moulds emphasized her love for animals and her dedication to teaching and nurturing young minds. She described the past 20 months as irreversibly damaging.

FutureCar Staff