Driver who punched horse has appeal dismissed

As reported by the NZ Herald, a harness racing driver who was filmed punching a horse in the head during a race has unsuccessfully appealed his seven-day suspension.

It’s a move animal rights activist are calling “pathetic” given how paltry they say the suspension was in the first place.

“It’s just pathetic to appeal a seven-day sentence for punching a horse in the head,” spokeswoman for Animal Save NZ, Summer Jane, said.

“Seven days is simply not appropriate to send a message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable…and then for him to appeal it as well.”

Jane said that if there was a video of someone punching a dog or another “companion animal” then there would be public outrage.

“Just because it was a horse competing in a race doesn’t make this any more acceptable,” she said.

Jane went on to say that the Racing Integrity Board’s decision focused primarily on the public perception of the incident as opposed to the animal abuse that had occurred on live television.

Harness-racing driver Jonny Cox was filmed at the Rangiora Raceway in May punching horse Kiwi Hero multiple times during a race.

To read more, click here.

by Jeremy Wilkinson, republished from The New Zealand Herald