The man, riding out with the South Durham Hunt, appears to become frustrated as his mount bucks and turns, as footage shows him lashing out with his left hand and his crop making heavy contact with the horse.
21st November 2025
A police investigation has been launched after a huntsman was captured on video striking his horse over the head with a riding crop.
The man, riding out with the South Durham Hunt, appears to become frustrated as his mount bucks and turns. Footage shows him lashing out with his left hand and his crop making heavy contact with the horse, which closes its eyes at the force of the impact.
The incident took place in Foxton, near Sedgefield, County Durham, on Saturday, November 8, and was caught on camera by anti hunting campaign groups, North East Hunt Monitors and Protect The Wild.
It was shared widely online and has now come to the attention of the police. Durham Constabulary said an investigation has been launched, and officers are working with the RSPCA. The charity said it is aware of the video and urged anyone with information to contact them.
The British Hounds Sports Association (BHSA), the governing body of the hunt, has since called the incident “unacceptable” and said it fell “well below the standards expected.” It said the clip captured a “brief lapse in judgement by an experienced horseman who has a long track record of proper care and professionalism in his work with horses and hounds”.
North East Hunt Monitors said members of its team shouted at the huntsman “hoping to provoke some sense of shame”. But they said that he showed “little genuine care for the horse”.
The group said: “As a group, we have been doing this for more than 10 years, we have seen numerous foxes hunted and killed, as well as deer and hare. The sound of a fox being torn apart by 40 hounds will never leave you.
“We give up our time at least one day a week from October to March, because we are passionate about wildlife. We believe that no animal should be hunted in this way, in the name of sport.” There is no suggestion the South Durham Hunt was involved in hunting animals.
A Durham Police spokesperson confirmed their investigation into the incident. They said: “Police were made aware of reports of a drag hunt on Saturday November 8 in Sedgefield.
“Officers are now reviewing CCTV in relation to suspected animal cruelty to a horse. An investigation is underway, and officers are working alongside RSPCA colleagues.”
A spokesperson for the BHSA said the footage is “unacceptable and falls well below the standards expected within our hunt”. They added: “Welfare for both horses and hounds is paramount, and any behaviour that risks undermining confidence in lawful trail hunting must be taken seriously.
“As soon as the incident was confirmed, the hunt took immediate action and referred the matter to the British Hound Sports Association to ensure full openness and transparency.
“The BHSA, as the governing body, is responsible for enforcing the sport’s core principles, has issued a formal reprimand to the huntsman involved and has arranged a precautionary welfare inspection. The clip captures a brief lapse in judgement by an experienced horseman who has a long track record of proper care and professionalism in his work with horses and hounds.
“There is no indication of any wider welfare concern beyond the moment shown. This isolated incident should not be taken as representative of the hunt, its standards, or the values of the sport. The hunt remains fully committed to the highest welfare standards and to ensuring that our conduct reflects those standards at all times.”
An RSPCA spokesperson added: “We have been made aware of this video and we would like to reassure people we will always look into complaints made about.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/huntsman-filmed-whacking-horse-horror-36286050
THESE FILTHY EVIL BASTARDS DON’T CARE HOW MUCH THEY HURT AN ANIMAL THEY ARE SCUM. IF THIS HAD BEEN A CHILD BEING HIT ALL HELL WOULD BE LET LOOSE SO DO THE SAME FOR THIS HORSE OR JUST BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THIS THUG.