Primary school teacher chokes back tears as she slams RSPCA and says she received death threats as she is cleared of animal cruelty over footage of her punching and kicking her horse Bruce Almighty during hunt

A teacher and huntswoman held back tears after she was cleared of an animal cruelty offence over footage of her striking her horse.

Sarah Moulds, 39, slammed the RSPCA for unsuccessfully trying to prosecute her as she was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, a grey pony she owned called Bruce Almighty.

Footage surfaced of her punching and kicking the horse on November 6, 2021, shared by the Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs campaign group, which claimed the video was evidence of ‘violence running through [the] veins’ of groups hunting animals for sport. Moulds then lost her job as a primary school teacher after an investigation.

But a jury of 11 men and one woman cleared Moulds of animal cruelty after just over five hours of deliberation following a three-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Outside court, the ex-teacher wept as she hit out at the RSPCA for failing to engage with her, claiming that their case would have fallen apart had they visited Bruce to inspect him sooner after the incident.

Sarah Moulds choked back tears, flanked by friends and family, as she thanked the jury for clearing her of an animal cruelty charge after she was filmed striking a horse in 2021

Sarah Moulds could be seen taking her boot to the horse, a child’s pony called Bruce Almighty

Sarah Moulds arriving at Lincoln Crown Court to hear the verdict in her trial earlier on Friday. the jury of 11 men and one woman cleared her of an animal cruelty offence

Surrounded by weeping friends and family, Ms Moulds said: ‘They [the RSPCA] are an animal charity, whose concern is animal welfare. They are the only charity in the UK with the powers to prosecute. 

‘They have been pressured to be seen to be ‘doing something’ by online bullies and ill-informed high profile individuals, wasting a phenomenal amount of public donations to bring a politically charged case. 

‘At no point over the last 20 months have they asked to examine Bruce Almighty, my child’s pony, to see the environment in which he was looked after, or to check for injuries sustained.

‘If they had visited Bruce on the day after this incident, or indeed any day in the last year and a half, they would have met a perfectly healthy, well cared for and happy pony – as verified by an independent veterinary practice at our request.’

The rider also slammed those who conducted a ‘trial by social media’ after the footage went viral, saying she had been subjected to ‘premature judgements’ because a ‘snippet of video was taken out of context’.

The reaction to the video, which was viewed millions of times, saw her receive ‘hand-delivered’ death threats – including one in a Christmas card, reports the PA news agency.

Claiming that the ‘principles of justice and fairness’ had been ‘upheld’, Ms Moulds added: ‘I adore my animals and have dedicated my life to teaching and nurturing young minds; it was heart-wrenching to be so wrongly and publicly maligned.

‘It is crucial to understand that what we see on the internet, especially on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, is often a fragmented version of the truth.’

However, while she has been ‘vindicated’ by the jury, she said her life had been irrevocably damaged because of her association with the footage.

Ms Moulds continued: ‘The jury’s decision today has vindicated me; however the damage from the last 20 months’ trial by social media is irreversible. 

‘The loss of my career, the hand delivered death threats to me and my children, and the distress caused to my family cannot be undone.

‘My loved ones have had to watch powerlessly as our life has unravelled based on falsehoods.

‘To those who supported me throughout this ordeal, including my current employers, often in the face of an online hate and taking great personal risk to their own careers and physical safety, I cannot thank you enough. 

‘Your unwavering faith and love have been the silver lining in this dark cloud.’

Moulds struck the horse several times in footage, which provoked revulsion on social media and prompted the RSPCA to investigate – but she has been cleared of animal cruelty

Sarah Moulds was a primary school teacher – but she lost her job and claimed during the trial to have received death threats

Moulds, who was supported during the proceedings by friends and family, wept as the not guilty verdict was handed down.

Thanking the jury for their service, Recorder Graham Huston said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. I know it was not an easy case, no case is easy, but some cases are more difficult than others.

‘What is obvious is you gave this case the utmost attention and you proceeded with your deliberations carefully and thoroughly and I am very grateful to you.’

The jury had heard that Moulds had owned the horse, a child’s pony, for two-and-a-half years when they joined the Cottesmore Hunt, one of Britain’s oldest foxhound packs at the time of the incident.

Moulds had said that the horse ‘took off’ unexpectedly while horses were being untacked, which saw him go ‘on a jolly’ for 25 to 30 metres down the road in The Drift, Gunby, Lincolnshire.

As Bruce returned to his horse box, a hunt saboteur filmed Moulds kicking the horse in the chest and slapping him four times in the face before returning him to a horse box.

Prosecutor Hazel Stevens said that Bruce was ‘immediately chastised’ for his misbehaviour and ‘suffered physically and mentally’ from Moulds’ ‘unnecessary and counter-productive’ actions.

Moulds was later sacked as a teacher in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and was prosecuted by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

An equine vet who gave evidence in court said Bruce demonstrated fear in the video, which the Crown said constituted suffering at Moulds’ hands.

But the vet conceded that there were no signs of external injury on Bruce and internal injuries could only have been confirmed if a post-mortem had been conducted.

Bruce was taken to a vet 10 days after the incident and was found to be ‘in very good health’ and still lives a ‘wonderfully idyllic life’ with Moulds in Somerby, Melton Mowbray. 

Giving evidence, Moulds said she and her children had received death threats and that her life had been ‘torn to pieces as a result of that four-second decision’.

She said she had intended to ‘briefly shock’ Bruce to ‘discipline him quickly’ for running off, which she believed could have had severe consequences for both Bruce and the child riding him.

Moulds added that she had to go ‘into hiding’ due to the reaction to the video, but took Bruce to be examined on November 16, 2021, with a vet concluding he was ‘very good and healthy with no signs of internal injuries’. 

When asked by her barrister, Derek Duffy, whether Bruce showed any reaction to the incident, Moulds said: ‘None whatsoever. He showed no fear toward me, he followed me into the trailer.

‘The next day, he greeted me in exactly the same way he always does. Nothing has ever been different.’

Lincoln Crown Court, where Sarah Moulds was cleared of an animal cruelty charge following a three day trial

Ms Moulds said she had been ‘vindicated’ by the jury – but hit out at those who conducted a ‘trial by social media’ whilst not knowing all of the facts

The RSPCA left a calling card (pictured) in the front door of Sarah Moulds’ home in Leicestershire following the incident. It has defended its decision to pursue a prosecution

The RSPCA has defended its decision to prosecute Ms Moulds, citing a 95% success rate in animal welfare cases that it brings to court.

It led the prosecution case alone, with no input from the police or the Crown Prosecution Service. 

It made a call at Moulds’ home and left a card asking her to contact them in the days after the incident.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘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.

‘We believe that treating all animals with kindness will lead to a more compassionate society and we need everyone to help us do that.

‘Animals do not learn well when they are scared or stressed so physically punishing them is not effective, as a wealth of science shows. 

‘That’s why we advocate the use of positive reward training instead of force and fear.’