Farrier sentenced over hammer assault on horse

A farrier who struck a horse 9 occasions with a hammer throughout a “barbaric, unprovoked and extended assault” has been banned from protecting and dealing with animals for 10 years.

Scott Manson, 34, of Whitecross Cottages, Bridstow, Ross on Wye, was sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court docket on 20 March, having pleaded responsible to animal cruelty at an earlier listening to following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

The courtroom heard that on 1 April 2022, Manson misplaced his mood whereas shoeing a shopper’s horse and used his hammer to repeatedly strike him. Manson hit the horse, who was tied up, 9 occasions throughout the “extended assault” that lasted six and a half minutes.

An RSPCA spokesman mentioned Manson initially claimed the horse had damaged his hammer in an image message despatched to the proprietor, however questioning why the often “docile” horse would have reacted in such a manner, the proprietor determined to view the yard CCTV.

“The footage confirmed Manson adopting an aggressive stance, and hanging out together with his hammer in his hand on the horse’s entrance legs,” mentioned the spokesman.

*Warning: upsetting footage beneath*

“Upon checking the horse, the proprietor may see his proper entrance leg was larger than typical and there have been varied marks on each entrance legs and across the shin space. The hair had additionally been taken off and the shin uncovered.”

Solicitor Lindi Meyer represented the RSPCA in courtroom and described what the specialist equine vet concluded in a report having seen the footage.

“[Manson] repeatedly beat the horse across the forelimbs the place there may be little or no in the way in which of soppy tissue protecting and as such the blows had been nearly on to the bone. This might have been extremely painful for the horse and the farrier could be very lucky to not have brought about fractures of any of the limbs,” she mentioned.

“The horse was hit 9 occasions viciously in a six-and-a-half-minute video assault which left it with comfortable tissue swellings and cuts to the limbs. The assault was unprovoked, unacceptable and utterly pointless and has brought about this horse to endure from each bodily and psychological hurt.”

Ms Meyer added that “the abuse falls far beneath” what is predicted of a human coping with horses, “not to mention knowledgeable farrier who has been entrusted by the house owners to deal with the horse”.

“At no level was the farrier attempting to show the horse to face nonetheless, decide its toes up or every other motion. The actions had been merely to beat the horse out of anger, a brief mood, or frustration,” she mentioned.

“Regardless of the purpose, the actions had been so barbaric and merciless that the farrier broke the top off a hammer on to the delicate areas of the entrance limbs of the horse.”

The courtroom additionally heard that following the incident, the horse was reluctant for his house owners to the touch or brush his legs and when a brand new farrier got here out the gelding was given sedatives from the vet to maintain him calm on two events. He was additionally reluctant to go in his secure and was cautious of individuals for a time, however is now “again to regular”.

In mitigation it was mentioned Manson is remorseful, and that he was harassed and was visiting his dying mom in Scotland twice every week on the time.

Manson was given a 12-week suspended jail sentence and a 10-year animal ban, together with working with animals, which he can’t enchantment for the complete 10 years.

He was ordered to hold out 150 hours’ unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation exercise requirement days. He should pay £400 prices and a £128 sufferer surcharge.

A FRC spokesman informed H&H the council is conscious of the prison conviction of Manson.

“The conviction shall be topic to the statutory provisions of the council; it could, subsequently, not be applicable for the council to make any remark presently.”

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