THE moment an ex-primary school teacher kicked and punched a horse leaving it "in distress" has been played to a court.
Sarah Moulds, 39, grabbed the pony called Bruce Almighty by its reins as it strayed into a road and was filmed kicking it in the chest.
The former teacher then slapped the nag round the head four times while saboteurs filmed the scene during a meet of the Cottesmore Hunt, in November 2021.
At the opening of a trial today, RSPCA prosecutors claimed the onslaught had caused "fear and distress" to the child’s pony, stating it suffered physically and mentally.
Moulds claimed her behaviour was that of a “reasonable, competent and humane person”.
But a vet argued the horse was unnecessarily being “caused fear”.
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Hazel Stevens, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told Lincoln Crown Court: "This is a case brought by the RSPCA, a private prosecution, and arises from events in 2021.
"The matter came to light when a video clip was posted on social media, that was eventually shared with the RSPCA."
Miss Stevens said two ponies had been left with two children next to Moulds' horse box when Bruce ran into the road with a child still holding his rope.
Miss Stevens said Moulds told the child to let go of the rope and then caught Bruce who she immediately struck with blows.
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Miss Stevens argued it was also unnecessary to chastise Bruce at that time as the pony had already been caught.
The prosecutor said: "The prosecution case effectively is firstly that this pony suffered, it suffered physically and mentally at the time, and that suffering was unnecessary."
The court heard there were no physical injuries to Bruce when he was examined on November 16, 2021, and he was in "good health."
However an expert instructed by the RSPCA concluded the animal would have suffered "fear and distress" during the incident.
Giving evidence, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben, said a number of complaints had been received after the footage was circulated on social media.
During an interview, Moulds said Bruce "took off down the road" after she loaded her own horse into their horse box.
The court heard she described telling the child to drop the rope and then immediately chastised Bruce after catching him.
She said in interview: "I feel it was necessary in the circumstances, Bruce was a child's pony."
She claimed he was a risk to other road users, himself and the children.
Moulds told the RSPCA inspector: "I disagree that it was unnecessary, and I disagree that he suffered."
Award-winning equine veterinary surgeon Suzanne Green, who watched the video after being instructed by the RSPCA, told the jury she had concluded that Moulds behaviour towards Bruce "was not proportionate or appropriate".
Dr Green said: "The horse has got to where the child is. It's not been evasive, it allows the girl to catch up.
"As Sarah Moulds gets hold of the lead rope, at that point his head continues to go up, it is pulling back, his eyes are shut, its ears are to the side. It has tension in its face."
Dr Green said a kick from Moulds to the chest area of the horse then "immediately sends a ripple down his body".
The veterinary surgeon said as a prey animal the instinct of the horse would have been to flee.
"He can't do that because she has tightly got hold of the lead rope," Dr Green added.
Dr Green said: "You can see on the horse's face when she hits that horse. It is being caused fear."
The medic described the first slap as “an open handed whack" and the second "as a closed fist and knuckles".
Dr Green added: "That horse has nowhere to go, he is not fighting back, he is not hurting her."
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Moulds, of Somerby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire denies causing unnecessary suffering to her grey pony, named Bruce Almighty, at the Drift, Gunby, on November 6, 2021.
The trial continues
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