I was sacked after being filmed punching my horse – now I’ve been cleared and I’ve got a new job, Sarah Moulds says
A TEACHER who was sacked after being filmed punching her horse has told of rebuilding her life after walking free from court.
Sarah Moulds revealed she has a new job and is “happily” getting her life “back on track” after being cleared of animal cruelty.
She was acquitted by a jury on Friday following an RSPCA prosecution after video showed her slapping her horse Bruce Almighty.
The 39-year-old mum-of-two says she is “back teaching at another school”, having lost her former job at a primary school when the footage first emerged.
Moulds “chastised” the grey pony after it ran into a road in November 2021, her trial at Lincoln Crown Court heard.
She was seen in footage shown to jurors using her open hand to slap the horse, yanking on its reins and kicking it with riding boots on.
Moulds then pulled the 11-year-old horse into its box during the Cottesmore Hunt in an area in Lincolnshire known as The Drift.
But on Friday she was acquitted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and not taking reasonable steps to protect it from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
She and her family wept when the verdict came in after jurors had deliberated for five hours.
She has now described herself as “very relieved” to be in the clear and praised support she received from parents at the school where she used to work in her rural Leicestershire village of Somerby.
She also spoke of receiving hate mail and death threats which she says forced her to briefly flee her home – and said after the not guilty verdict the abuse has “started all over again”.
Moulds told the Mail On Sunday: “The online abusers are back. At the time it was horrific and I had hand-delivered letters to my home.
“They are unhappy with the outcome of the trial – the hate from hunt saboteurs has started all over again.”
But she revealed she now had a new job and insisted: “I’m rebuilding my life and happily getting it back on track.”
When speaking outside court on Friday she suggested the RSPCA had been “pressured” by online “bullies” to pursue the case.
The trial heard Bruce “suffered physically and mentally” from Moulds’ “unnecessary and counter-productive” actions.
Equine vet Dr Suzanne Green said the rider’s behaviour was “not proportionate, not appropriate and not in response to anything”.
Moulds said she only meant to “briefly shock” the horse she still owns – and described how Bruce had a “wonderfully idyllic” life.
After the video was shared by anti-hunt saboteurs, she lost her job as a teacher at the Mowbray Education Trust.
The RSPCA responded to Friday’s verdict by saying: “We do not take the decision to bring prosecution lightly.
“We apply the same tests as the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute someone for animal welfare offences.
“This requires there to be sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and for it to be in the public interest to prosecute.
“This case was reviewed by a prosecution case manager, an independent solicitor and a barrister who all agreed that the evidential test was met and with the support of two expert vets.
“We accept the court’s decision today and thank the jury for their careful consideration, but the public can be assured the RSPCA will always look into concerns that are raised to us about animal neglect and cruelty.”