The British Horseracing Authority has issued a 15-month ban to former assistant trainer Neil Harris over two videos of incidents showing him striking horses during jumps schooling, reports racingpost.com.
The incidents occurred on Dec. 3, 2017 and Aug. 7, 2020, and were brought to the BHA in March 2021. Harris’ ban is backdated to March 16, 2021.
“Welfare and the care of horses is absolutely paramount,” James O’Mahony, the BHA disciplinary panel’s chairman, told racingpost.com. “In the first footage, there is in our judgement a loss of temper, which is completely inappropriate.
“Yet perhaps the most disturbing feature was blows to the face and neck of the horse concerned. In the second video, there’s also the use of a solid implement. His attitude must of course be changed if he thinks for one moment he can do anything like this again.”
Read more at racingpost.com.
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