A pony has been removed by police after a video of its being mounted by a man and falling backwards to the ground caused widespread outrage on Facebook.
The footage, posted on social media this weekend, showed the coloured horse, thought to be a youngster, in what appears to be a back garden, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
The pony can be seen held by the nose while man clambers on to its back, and laughter can be heard in the background.
Once the man is on board, he can be heard to say “I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” to more laughter. The pony then rears, falling over backwards into bushes in the corner of the garden. More laughter follows.
The video was posted publicly on Facebook and widely shared, sparking outraged comments.
Kent Police announced yesterday that it had seized the pony, and that it was “safe from harm”, while the RSPCA investigates. A police spokesman told H&H the pony was picked up at about 12.30am, after it had been reported wandering in the road.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “We are aware of this situation. Unfortunately we are unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may have been taken.
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“We understand how frustrating that is for animals lovers but releasing information could prejudice a future prosecution or could lead to us being fined.
“We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.
“A lot of the time issues will be dealt with by advice and education and it is not always appropriate to publicise this information for legal reasons.”
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
