Horse Puncher sacked from teaching job

I did wonder if this is the type of behaviour that this woman considers appropriate in public, just what would she do behind closed doors? Someone in a position if authority should be called to account so I am not surprised that she was sacked. I would have thought that even the RSPCA would eventually prosecute.

Well, I didnt think I was a million miles away from the point Doodle.
Someone did say that there was probably footage removed, and it was wrong talk as if we know the whole story.

I'm having trouble imagining what might change my mind.

Perhaps if she gave the horse a nice hug afterwards?

My point being it doesnt matter what came before or after, the same as in any case of violence.

Nasty person, no need to punch an animal like that. My D who adores horses would have given the woman one back if she'd have been near her.
She's obviously not mentally sound to be in the company of children and animals and could never be trusted to work with them.

It's not the way to teach animals, especially horses as the idea is to keep them calm because of the damage they can do when spooked.

25Avalon

Dd is a primary school teacher and she is very well aware that she must be careful what she posts on Facebook or how she appears on any social media, as any behaviour deemed inappropriate by the school can result in a reprimand or sacking.

Sometimes it is safer as a teacher not to have a Facebook account at all! DH felt very strongly about this, maybe because he is an older man?

Doodledog

MissAdventure

I can't see that whatever footage may or may not be missing, could ever, in any way, shape, or form, justify her behaviour.

Which is a million miles from the point, really. There is no justification for what she did, and as far as I can see, nobody is attempting to do so.

Yes, Lincslass - that's exactly it. Public humiliation is devastating, and largely irreversible when it happens on social media. It can do untold harm to people and often results in suicide or mental health breakdowns.

The people condemning and pointing fingers then carry on with their own imperfect lives, probably never stopping to think that they are often one candid photo away from having it happen to them. Unless of course, they are so far beyond reproach that they can rest assured that it won't.

Doodledog it is the person/persons who put the footage on line who should also be held to account, along with the female carrying out the vicious act on the horse. Not those who are discussing the footage.

Instead of intervening they decided to catch it all on camera and post it

MissAdventure

I can't see that whatever footage may or may not be missing, could ever, in any way, shape, or form, justify her behaviour.

Which is a million miles from the point, really. There is no justification for what she did, and as far as I can see, nobody is attempting to do so.

Yes, Lincslass - that's exactly it. Public humiliation is devastating, and largely irreversible when it happens on social media. It can do untold harm to people and often results in suicide or mental health breakdowns.

The people condemning and pointing fingers then carry on with their own imperfect lives, probably never stopping to think that they are often one candid photo away from having it happen to them. Unless of course, they are so far beyond reproach that they can rest assured that it won't.

I suppose there are little pockets of places where abuse happens?
Nothing is perfect.

Perhaps it need the right circumstances to come out?

A while back I watched on youtube, a beautifully turned out horse getting smacked around by it's owner, who was about 15.
Her mum just watched on, and never said a word!!

This is the only place I have commented on regarding this incident.

I am against trial by media, I am against death threats to anyone.

I do defend my right and any others on this thread to air their opinion. It is after all what GN is for, sharing opinions and discussions on multiple subjects.

Doodledog

FarNorth

Doodledog did you miss that trisher was defending what she did?

I saw it as trisher pointing out that there may be more to the footage than was shown.

Personally, I doubt that there is another way to see it - it was very wrong, and she should be called to account. My point is not defending her at all - it is that we have laws for a reason, and we can't expect protection from them if people can decide for themselves what should be punishable and what the punishment should be. That is mob rule, and is not desirable at all, IMO.

People do all sorts of things that are wrong, and unless the law says that they go to jail they usually keep their job and are not hounded or sent death threats. They pay the fine, do the community service, or attend rehabilitation courses (maybe that would be a good idea in this case - a course on animal welfare, and community service with the RSPCA?), but don't have their lives ruined by people who have seen a two-minute clip on social media.

A great pity more people don’t think like this. I was only reading this morning about a young woman, suffering mentally and with anorexia, who was pilloried on social media for dropping some rubbish. Being vilified like this was the last straw, according to her Mum, she then went on to take her own life.. W hat you have said is so true. Let him without sin etc.

I can't see that whatever footage may or may not be missing, could ever, in any way, shape, or form, justify her behaviour.

Well MaizieD perhaps it's the microcosm that you exist in. My daughter who has two horses, stables them quietly with horsey friends and they all keep their heads down and enjoy each other's company.
However, that isn't to say that there isn't a lot of unkindness out there. Hitting, punching, kicking, broom up the backside, perhaps you turn a blind eye, there's a lot of that out there under the guise of someone 'knowing what they're doing'!
As for the horse racing world, you'll find plenty to say that racing two year olds is fine because they're bred for it, opposite point of view to you, you're willing to condemn that....

Doodledog. Why is it mob rule? I agree that the death threats and being forced out of her home are dreadful; criminal even, but her employers have taken the decision to sack her. I’m sure they gave it careful consideration before doing so.

As I stated in a previous post, many people have been caught out on social media - some have lost their jobs over historic tweets when young and immature. Nobody seems to get too bothered about that. Video of a schoolteacher kicking and punching a horse in front of children - that’s ok, she was trying to control it, no need to sack her.

Sorry but I find your argument skewed.

Dd is a primary school teacher and she is very well aware that she must be careful what she posts on Facebook or how she appears on any social media, as any behaviour deemed inappropriate by the school can result in a reprimand or sacking.

I do tend to agree with you, Doodledog, but I just think that her sacking was inevitable given the circumstances.

I agree that trial by SM is very worrying whatever the circumstances. And people that are threatening her are as bad as she is.

FarNorth

Doodledog did you miss that trisher was defending what she did?

I saw it as trisher pointing out that there may be more to the footage than was shown.

Personally, I doubt that there is another way to see it - it was very wrong, and she should be called to account. My point is not defending her at all - it is that we have laws for a reason, and we can't expect protection from them if people can decide for themselves what should be punishable and what the punishment should be. That is mob rule, and is not desirable at all, IMO.

People do all sorts of things that are wrong, and unless the law says that they go to jail they usually keep their job and are not hounded or sent death threats. They pay the fine, do the community service, or attend rehabilitation courses (maybe that would be a good idea in this case - a course on animal welfare, and community service with the RSPCA?), but don't have their lives ruined by people who have seen a two-minute clip on social media.

Doodledog did you miss that trisher was defending what she did?

MaizieD

To be honest, Doodledog, I don't think this would have got as far as a court of law.

No, I'm guessing not, or it would have.

My point is that the penalty she has suffered because of trial by SM is greater than it would have been if the offence had been tried by law.

I am in no way defending her actions, but that can't be right, can it?

As others have said, there is a lot of cruelty, deliberate and incidental in the horse world both racing and leisure.

I don't know much about racing, JJ2, (which I think is inherently cruel anyway in the use of immature horses) but I've been around the leisure horse world for a lot of years now and I've seen very little cruelty on show.

MaizieD

To be honest, Doodledog, I don't think this would have got as far as a court of law.

Agreed, MaizieD

Doodledog

Blondiescot

I can't believe anyone is actually attempting to defend this! I've also been around horses all my life and there is no way you could ever excuse this kind of behaviour. It is utterly indefensible. Would I want someone capable of losing their temper and treating an animal in this way in charge of my child? No I would not.

Nobody has defended what she did . It was indefensible.

It should, however, be dealt with in the courts, not on social media. That way, all the facts would be on the table, and she would have a chance to attempt a defence herself. If she couldn't (as is likely) she would suffer the legal penalty. That is what separates us from vigilante societies and those without the rule of law.

Had this footage not been taken and made available nothing would ever have happened. This woman would have carried on her life thinking it's perfectly acceptable to kick and slap a horse.

So whilst I agree that trial by media is unacceptable in most cases. I'm pleased that this was made public.

I'm sure she will never do it again and perhaps it will make like minded people think twice before. they lash out at a defenceless animal.

To be honest, Doodledog, I don't think this would have got as far as a court of law.

So this trial by media thing is just as equivalent to letting off a bomb. It has effectively ruined her life and she's gone into hiding. Feel proud of yourselves.

I haven't done anything that would affect this person.

As others have said, there is a lot of cruelty, deliberate and incidental in the horse world both racing and leisure. I've seen it first hand and it is sickening. Horses are sensitive, willing, trainable animals who deserve better than being kicked and punched when a human is angry with them.

It's all very well to talk about trial by social media but this isn't a one-off, it happens all the time and how do you think anyone would find out if it hadn't been filmed this one time?

I'm glad this woman was sacked. I wonder if she beats her own children when she's upset? Even if she doesn't, by her actions she is teaching them that it is fine to abuse an animal when it doesn't do what you want.

Another horse owner here. I've just watched the clip. The horse had got loose, wandered round to find its mates, stopped dead to be caught then she kicked it and hit it around the head.

Every single one of my horse owning friends and acquaintances would immediately condemn what she did. Not only was it completely unnecessary but you never, never, never hit a horse round the head (or anywhere else). The kick was absolutely stupid and unnecessary. (But, remember, horses 'discipline' each other by kicking and biting)

It wasn't a crisis situation, no-one, including the horse, was in any danger. Most horsey people would have just caught the horse, maybe laughed at themselves for not tying it up securely in the first place, and that would be that.

What makes me more cross is that there was a child there watching. What a dreadful example to give a child.

I think that sacking was her employer's only course of action. She'd have had the incident hanging over her and commented on for ever and what a poor example for her pupils.