A man has been spared jail after he was caught whipping, and slapping horses in shocking footage.
Jack Woods physically abused three horses and psychologically abused another in “unnecessary and brutal” attacks.
Woods, 22, from Cosens Way in Bognor, also whipped horses during the 30-second-long video as well a threatening a horse with a whip on several occasions.
Speaking on the case, an expert vet said: “The horses in these clips are no less than absolutely terrified.
“The horses desperately try to escape from him and display severe fear, escapism and avoidance behaviours - equines are flight or fight animals as they are prey species these horses in these videos are displaying complete flight behaviour.
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“Unreasonable force and his actions are nothing short of barbaric and cruel and are used due to the lack of his own ability to both handle and ride horses.”
“He causes them intense fear and distress by both his actions and his body language.
“He is observed on the video to repeatedly beat the different horses around the head and neck predominantly but also the body.
“There is very little in the way of soft tissue covering on the head as such the blows were almost directly to the bone which is painful.”
Woods pleaded guilty to attacking the horses in Boston, Lincolnshire, admitting counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the three horses and inflicting psychological abuse on the fourth horse.
He also admitted failing to avoid the use of inappropriately harsh, potentially painful and frightening training, handling, control or disciplinary measure of all four horses.
Woods was handed a 26-week suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £2,100 in costs and disqualified from owning horses for 18 months.
RSPCA lead investigator Andy Bostock said: “These videos are disturbing and heart breaking to watch and you can see that the horses are in fear.
“The defendant’s behaviour is unacceptable, extremely aggressive, extremely unnecessary and has led to the horses within the video being caused fear, distress and pain and suffering.”
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