Police are investigating after hunt sabs released disturbing footage of a man kicking and punching a horse at a hunt kennels on Saturday.
In the drone footage captured by East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs (EYCHS), the man – reported to be huntsman of the Derwent Hunt, Damian Readman – can be seen entering stables at the hunt kennels and kicking the horse before striking the animal a number of times.
In a damning indictment of the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) and their farcical National Trail Hunting Day (aka Smokescreen Saturday) next month, the Derwent Hunt are ‘hosts’ of the North Yorkshire event and Readman was listed as the organiser, until this detail was hurriedly removed from their website and app later on Saturday.
A spokesperson for EYCHS, said:
“Our team, who witnessed this shocking abuse first hand, will never forget the sickening sight of that poor horse collapsing to the ground.”
A HSA spokesperson said:
“The footage brings into sharp focus the widespread animal cruelty involved in so-called ‘trail hunting’ – not only to wild animals but also those within the care of the hunts, including horses, hounds and terriers.”
“It also once again highlights what happens behind closed doors at hunts lauded as examples of good practice by hunting’s so-called governing body, BHSA, a far cry from the sanitised events that will be on display for the public at their Smokescreen Saturday events in September.”
Support our vital work by becoming a member.
We are the only organisation that works directly in the field to save wildlife through direct action.
