A primary school teacher who was sacked after she was filmed appearing to punch and kick a horse has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty by the RSPCA.

Sarah Moulds, 37, was fired from her post at the Mowbray Education Trust in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, last month after footage was shared online showing a woman repeatedly slapping the animal when it ran into the road.

The RSPCA has since confirmed a prosecution case has been brought against the former teacher and she is due to appear in Boston Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 31.

In a statement issued this week, a spokesperson from the organisation said Ms Moulds has been accused of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 against a grey pony named Bruce.

The RSPCA will allege the 37-year-old woman caused “unnecessary suffering” to Bruce by “kicking and hitting” him, and for not taking reasonable steps to “protect the animal from pain, suffering, injury or disease”.

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Both of the alleged offences against the grey pony occurred on November 6, 2021, in the vicinity of ‘The Drift’ Gunby, Lincolnshire. At the time Ms Moulds had been participating in The Cottesmore Hunt – one of Britain’s oldest foxhound packs.

The footage from the incident was investigated by the RSPCA after anti-hunting activists, the Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs, posted it to Twitter. At the time, the animal charity described it as “really upsetting” and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Following public outcry over the video, Ms Moulds was suspended and then sacked by Mowbray Education Trust,

She was also removed from a voluntary position at her local branch at the pony club, while the Cottesmore Hunt said a “thorough internal investigation” had meant a “follower will not participate in trail hunting” with them.

Primary school teacher filmed punching and kicking a horse charged by RSPCA