- Teacher on Trial for Alleged Animal Cruelty
- Teacher Claims Discipline of Pony Was Necessary
- Expert Testimonies on the Incident
Sarah Moulds “reprimanded” Bruce Almighty, a grey horse that galloped onto a Lincolnshire road in November 2021, prosecutors said. The 39-year-old woman lost her teaching position after a video surfaced, but she denies two counts of animal maltreatment.
A former teacher who was observed striking and slapping a pony testified in court that she had “minimal contact” with the animal, and she and her children have since received death threats.
In November 2021, Sarah Moulds “reprimanded” Bruce Almighty, a grey pony that rushed onto a Lincolnshire road, authorities said.
The 39-year-old woman lost her employment as a teacher as a result of the incident. But she denies two counts of animal cruelty, claiming her actions were proportional and necessary.
Wednesday at the Lincoln Crown Court, she testified that she intended to “briefly shock” Bruce, but denied losing her composure.
She stated, “At that precise instant, Bruce did something incredibly dangerous, and I determined that it was necessary to discipline him immediately.
“In actuality, it was four seconds at that time”.
As always, my goal was to reprimand Bruce so he doesn’t repeat his acts.
“There was little contact, and it was brief and brief.”
Moulds told the jury that she owns four horses, has ridden them since she was four years old, and had owned Bruce for two and a half years at the time of the incident on 6 November 2021.
Bruce, 11, was ridden by a juvenile in Britain’s oldest foxhound pack, the Cottesmore Hunt, at The Drift, Gunby.
Bruce “took off” 25 metres down the road while being held by the youngster while the horses were untacked.
Moulds advised the child to let go of Bruce’s lead rope because “several horrific things” could have happened.
The court heard that Bruce eventually halted to graze on a grass verge and was captured on camera returning to his owners before being reprimanded by Moulds and led away in a horse box.
Moulds says the horse lives on her property in Somerby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and has a “wonderfully idyllic” life.
Moulds, her family, and Bruce had not returned to trail hunting due to death threats.
She stated, “I will never strike or discipline a horse in that manner again because my life has been shattered by that split-second decision.”
She had to “go into hiding” after the video’s reaction, but Bruce was inspected on 16 November 2021.
Wednesday, the jury was shown footage of the incident that was shared on social media by Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs.
Bruce “suffered physically and mentally” as a result of Moulds’ “unnecessary and counterproductive” actions, according to the prosecution.
Dr Suzanne Green, an equine veterinarian, testified for the prosecution that Moulds’ actions were “not proportional, not appropriate, and not in response to anything.”
However, she acknowledged that there were no external signs of bruising on Bruce and that any internal injuries or discoloration under his fur could have only been detected through a postmortem examination.
Comparing the blows to the horse being whipped in racing or showjumping, defense attorney Derek Duffy stated. “Horses are subjected to pain in numerous other ways during sporting events.”
We are aware that corporal punishment of horses is both common and permitted in certain contexts.
Dr. Green responded, “At no point is hitting your horse in the face done with care.”
However, Dr. Clive Madeiros, a veterinary surgeon for the defense, testified that Bruce likely experienced only “transient discomfort” and that there was “no hard evidence” that he was in agony.
In December 2021, Moulds was fired from her position at the Mowbray Education Trust in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. In January 2022, she was charged with two Animal Welfare Act 2006 violations.
Moulds deny giving a protected animal unnecessary hardship and neglecting to avoid pain, suffering, injury, or sickness.
