The sacked horse hitting ex teacher is going to court

[Gallop_Away]

If (and it's a big IF made up on the previous thread) she was afraid for her children being filmed I just don't think a reasonable person would a) give the sabs something to look at and report or b) take up time punching her horse when it would have been quicker to just load him herself. I just don't find that plausible, therefore the mitigating excuse of "the sabs made her do it by being there" doesn't hold any water with me.

I am not saying the sabs made her do it. Thats ridiculous. But the fact is they were there and I have seen first hand how quickly they use intimidation to escalate a situation.
We do not know what had happened before and as conniegirl pointed out the pony getting loose may have been the tipping point.
That doesn't make her actions ok but it may provide some context.
I'm also curious as you also say you don't condone trial by social media, what punishment would you deem appropriate?

 

[ycbm]

Deleted not worth it.

 

[paddy555]

No they just want soft targets.

I reported 2 starved horses to them, they were skeletal and there was a pony who had died of starvation in the same field.
My Vet said it was one of the worst cases he had seen (i called him because they were loose on the road so i herded them into my stables)

The horses and my vet were both in my stables when the RSPCA inspector turned up. Inspector decided they knew more that the vet and there was no evidence of starvation.
Refused to do anything about it.

yes I'm afraid they want a soft target and maximum publicity. This woman hitting the horse AND the hunt. What luck.

I've reported similar as you to them and the same useless result. I wouldn't have minded but they returned them to an owner who had already been prosecuted and was already banned from horse keeping for 10 years. Go figure.

 

[blitznbobs]

The RSPCA are not a welfare organisation, they are a political lobbying body with powers similar to the police — it is genuinely scary how Much power they have … they certainly shouldnt be classed as a charity and should be scrutinised for taking money under false pretences. How many people give them cash so that they can help stray cats and dogs as per their adverts — yet millions of pounds are spent trying some very dubious cases which are far more about political views than welfare.

 

[DabDab]

If she had slapped a person I very much doubt there would have been the online storm there has been. Maybe if she had kicked and punched a person, but even then I doubt that it would have gone viral.

Completely different context of course, but just thinking about acts seen on high profile media - Fights breakout on rugby pitches all the time, sometimes reciprocal, sometimes with a clear aggressor, and nobody really bats and eye. And the there is some instances of biting in football (always one sided), and I think sometimes they might get a short term ban.

 

[southerncomfort]

And we all know how much Chris Packham loves hunting and horses/ponies in general. Wasn't long ago that he was campaigning to remove all the new forest ponies from the forest.

? I didn't know that!!

 

[honetpot]

with powers similar to the police

They do not have special powers, they have no right of entry, and the quasi uniform is just to fool people into thinking they do.
http://the-shg.org/The Law and the RSPCA.htm

 

[Upthecreek]

What do people think the general public would think of the school and the pony club if they had not taken action to disassociate themselves from this woman? I am not a teacher but I can 100% guarantee I would lose my job if I was filmed doing what she did.

Would it be acceptable to the animal loving general public for the RSPCA not to investigate the case? (let’s not forget this was not just one reactive slap).

 

[YorksG]

What do people think the general public would think of the school and the pony club if they had not taken action to disassociate themselves from this woman? I am not a teacher but I can 100% guarantee I would lose my job if I was filmed doing what she did.

Would it be acceptable to the animal loving general public for the RSPCA not to investigate the case? (let’s not forget this was not just one reactive slap).

The majority of the general public would have forgotten all about this incident, if they'd ever known about it, had Packham et al not whipped up the mob

 

[Upthecreek]

The majority of the general public would have forgotten all about this incident, if they'd ever known about it, had Packham etc al not whipped up the mob

Yes of course. But once it got out there I don’t think the organisations had any choice but to take action. It’s very easy for us to sit at home in our armchairs and say the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, but presumably she went through her employer’s disciplinary process and the outcome was termination of her employment. I imagine the pony club followed their process to get rid of her as well. So for everyone saying the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, it does if her behaviour was in breech of her contract of employment or deemed to be an unacceptable example of how to treat horses to members of the pony club.

 

[Lexi_]

I don’t really care to watch the video again, but wasn’t she standing round the front of the box, chatting away to other people and not even watching while the kid rather badly tried to load the pony? Kid feebly let go of the pony, it calmly wandered round to its mates and she then proceeded to hit it multiple times in the head?

That doesn’t exactly equal with the spin some posters are making, that she was so wound up or under pressure by sabs that she was desperate to protect the kids and get home.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

why you feel the need to constantly ridicule, oppose and undermine me over and over again says more about you than me.

Nothing personal, I don't like misinformation being spread on SM

 

[honetpot]

What do people think the general public would think of the school and the pony club if they had not taken action to disassociate themselves from this woman? I am not a teacher but I can 100% guarantee I would lose my job if I was filmed doing what she did.

Would it be acceptable to the animal loving general public for the RSPCA not to investigate the case? (let’s not forget this was not just one reactive slap).

I just do not get the point, it's not nice to watch, but the pony was not in any danger. This case will cost thousands of pounds and I do not think it will achieve much in welfare terms, but I suppose it will raise money from donors.
I used to have a pony mare who could reverse a speed, kicking out with every stride, one of those connecting could break a leg, and that's normal horse behaviour. Has anyone been nutted by a pony that didn't want to do something, one flick of the head, and you could be missing your teeth.

 

[smolmaus]

I'm also curious as you also say you don't condone trial by social media, what punishment would you deem appropriate?

It doesn't matter what I think is appropriate. As soon as I give an opinion that's me part of the kangaroo court, isn't it? Upthecreek has it exactly right that it would be up to her employer, the pony club and her hunt.

 

[SusieT]

If we don't make an example of someone who is happy to behave like that as an adult in public - what do we condone? Many people have been taken to court for similar behaviour towards dogs - this is no different.

It also means that even if she gets no custodial sentence if she is seen doing the same again there is a recorded precedence to act on.

I have very little sympathy. The animal did not ask to be treated like that.

 

[skinnydipper]

I used to have a pony mare who could reverse a speed, kicking out with every stride, one of those connecting could break a leg, and that's normal horse behaviour. Has anyone been nutted by a pony that didn't want to do something, one flick of the head, and you could be missing your teeth.

Did the pony in the video do any of that?

 

[MagicMelon]

Excellent, delighted they are. Disgusting behaviour from this woman, she deserves everything she gets. I hope she is banned from keeping animals (and kids!) for life.

 

[MagicMelon]

I just do not get the point, it's not nice to watch, but the pony was not in any danger.

The horse was in danger, it got punched in the face! How is that not cruelty? She's a nasty person, had my sons teacher done something like this, I 100% would demand she was fired, I would not want someone like that around my children let alone my animals. Why on earth should a person be allowed to do this and it go unpunished, Id worry what you did to your pony!

 

[honetpot]

Did the pony in the video do any of that?

No, but I wish I had the video of me nearly being knocked out, by a pony that didn't want to be tied up while I brushed him, or the same pony carefully placing his hoof on my daughters foot, when before he moved her foot was nowhere near his hoof. Or the time he bit the nice judge who was giving him a pat. I can not say any of these aggressions were provoked, it was just spur of the moment. When he nearly knocked me out, I got a real wallop, seeing stars and feeling dizzy.
But do not worry, he was not sacked, and is fighting biting fit, at twenty six.

 

[skinnydipper]

No, but I wish I had the video of me nearly being knocked out, by a pony that didn't want to be tied up while I brushed him, or the same pony carefully placing his hoof on my daughters foot, when before he moved her foot was nowhere near his hoof. Or the time he bit the nice judge who was giving him a pat. I can not say any of these aggressions were provoked, it was just spur of the moment. When he nearly knocked me out, I got a real wallop, seeing stars and feeling dizzy.
But do not worry, he was not sacked, and is fighting biting fit, at twenty six.

Sorry HP, I really don't feel that is relevant to the case being discussed.

 

[skinnydipper]

I feel like any moment someone is going to come along and say "who hasn't done that to their pony at some time".

 

[ycbm]

Why on earth should a person be allowed to do this and it go unpunished

It hasn't gone unpunished.
.

 

[ycbm]

Excellent, delighted they are. Disgusting behaviour from this woman, she deserves everything she gets. I hope she is banned from keeping animals (and kids!) for life.

What do you want done to someone who actually damages an animal? Hang them?
.

 

[ycbm]

If we don't make an example of someone who is happy to behave like that as an adult in public - what do we condone?

Nobody has condoned her behaviour and she has been punished.
.

 

[ycbm]

Many people have been taken to court for similar behaviour towards dogs - this is no different

For smacking a dog 3 or 4 times and leaving no mark? I'm pretty sure there's never ever been a case in court of that.
.

 

[honetpot]

Sorry HP, I really don't feel that is relevant to the case being discussed.

I think its about proportionality, you are at far more danger of being hurt by a horse, that's why should wear head protection and gloves when you handle them, than us using no equipment. I can not think the horse was injured, and it's doubtful taking her to court will improve its welfare. There was no evidence to seize it on the day.
I am sure when my cows had their hooves trimmed, they are held in a crate and tipped on their side, it looks terrible, anyone videoing could make it look bad, and I am sure they are stressed at the time, but that does not give a whole picture of how they are kept.

 

[YorksG]

Excellent, delighted they are. Disgusting behaviour from this woman, she deserves everything she gets. I hope she is banned from keeping animals (and kids!) for life.

You would seriously see her children in care as a result of this?

 

[minesadouble]

I am actually shocked that anyone supports this prosecution.

All I will say is that if that is the worst thing that ever happens to that pony in his entire life at the hands of humans then he is one damned lucky equine!!

Way luckier than the millions of neglected/starving ponies that are ignored by the RSPCA.

As an organisation they actually make me sick!!

 

[paddy555]

Excellent, delighted they are. Disgusting behaviour from this woman, she deserves everything she gets. I hope she is banned from keeping animals (and kids!) for life.

and what would you do with real cruelty cases? hang draw and quarter them?

for heaven's sake it wasn't the end of the world. If you really want to worry about cruelty go and look at starving horses, ones who can barely stand or even cannot stand for lack of care, curly toes, totally terrified wrecks, real cruelty cases and then compare the damage to them against the damage to that pony.

Look in any collecting ring at kids hitting horses who won't jump or behind the horse lines where people think they cannot be seen. . I have seen far worse. Of course they should not hit them and neither should she have.

She has set a poor example to the pony club and to any others especially in her role as a teacher but there is no evidence she has harmed a child so extrapolating hitting a pony to hitting kids is rubbish.

This is a total waste of money by the RSPCA but perhaps this is all they are capable of.

 

[Upthecreek]

I just do not get the point, it's not nice to watch, but the pony was not in any danger. This case will cost thousands of pounds and I do not think it will achieve much in welfare terms, but I suppose it will raise money from donors.
I used to have a pony mare who could reverse a speed, kicking out with every stride, one of those connecting could break a leg, and that's normal horse behaviour. Has anyone been nutted by a pony that didn't want to do something, one flick of the head, and you could be missing your teeth.

The point is the organisations have to be seen to be doing something. Otherwise what is the point in having contracts of employment, codes of conduct etc.? If people can behave in a way that breaches those things with no consequences there is no point in having them. The horse in the video was stood still being punched and kicked. It was not behaving in a threatening and dangerous manner. In over 30 years of owning horses I can honestly say I have never punched a horse in the face or kicked it, so I struggle to understand where you are coming from.