Baker B charged with cruelty!

[Joe Bloggs]

Bjorn the baker charged with cruelty along with some of his staff, it dates back to AUG, Kim Waugh copped a fine, a slap on the wrist so lets see what happens to Baker Jnr if the charges are proved.

[Joe Bloggs]

Of course this is alleged, Baker apparently wasn't present when this allegedly occurred, so why is he being charged? Kim Waugh wasn't present either. None of this makes sense, No wonder Doc Chapman walked away from training, we will soon need CC cameras in every corner....and swimming pools!

[Freda]

Greenies, Joe?  or some other agenda?

[Joe Bloggs]

Don't know Freda other than there are 'witnesses'? 3 inc the foreman go up today and Bjorn tomorrow.

[Joe Bloggs]

Bjorn's staff disqualified. Bjorn goes up today, probably cop a fine for not being at the pool Raceday to watch his foreman supervise his staff.......or school them up on what not to do with a poly pipe.......this is unbelievable .

[Chief Stipe]

NSWStewards

Baker trio disqualified for animal cruelty

Three Bjorn Baker stable staff members have been disqualified. Picture: Getty Images

 

 

By Matt Jones
10:51pm • 21 October 2021

A lawyer for three Bjorn Baker stable staff members on Thursday argued there was there was no reason to doubt their love for racehorses despite all pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Stephen McLean, Daniel Henkel and Hannah Olden ­received various punishments following the treatment of a horse at the Warwick Farm equine pool on the morning of Saturday, August 28.

McLean pleaded guilty for failure to exercise reasonable care, control and supervision to prevent acts of cruelty committed, while Henkel and Olden pleaded guilty for an act of cruelty on a horse.

All three were represented by lawyer John Anderson, who acknowledged “the welfare of horses is a central matter to the integrity of racing”.

During the inquiry it was alleged that a poly pipe and a piece of conduit were used to strike the horse.

However, an inspection conducted by two independent veterinarians showed the horse was not injured.

Anderson asked for McLean, who is no longer employed by Baker, to be fined $5000 and for it to be reduced due to his early guilty plea.

Anderson wanted a two-month suspension for Olden and a ban for Henkel which was to be suspended.

“The appellant did not intend to cause and injury,” he said.

“The lack of intent to harm must be taken into account. There is no evidence to cause pain or suffering to the horse. They expressed deep remorse for what has occurred and wished it didn’t happen.”

Stewards hit the trio with harsher bans than they sought.

McLean received a four-month disqualification, while Henkel was disqualified for four months and two weeks, and Olden was rubbed out of racing for three months.

“Mr Henkel’s conduct is at the lower range of objective seriousness,” Anderson said.

“There’s no reason to doubt his love for racehorses.”

 

 

 

[Chief Stipe]

Perhaps they should have used a Jockey's whip and used it in non consecutive strides!

As an aside apparently it is illegal to use a poly pipe to strike a cattle beast in a yard race.  No doubt there will be Cattle Race Counsellors coming to a stockyard near you.

[Gammalite]

Very tough on the three persons. wonder if they will have mental health issues now? You'd be 'second guessing' forever now, whatever you are doing with a horse.

The racing industry is full of moments when an animal is placed in a position it doesn't really want to be in. Is part of the parcel to 'encourage' the horse to co-operate with his handlers in the desired manner.

Things like breaking in, tube -drenching, getting shod for the first few times (has a few real danger issues) ,even swimming. even getting on the trailer or truck . All part of education more than animal cruelty. 

Thankfully with the hundred+ horses I have swum in Qld , were at private facilties (so no-one around to make a complaint) and in big dams mainly , from cables, long-leads or rowboat on occasion. And there was room for people to lock arms and shove the 'Newbie' horse in to the water, for the first time or two . (Like a horse into the starting barrier sometimes gets from the barrier attendants) After a day or 2 the horse generally likes the idea and just walks straight in uncoerced and enjoys it's swim around.

If horse is lashing out during any of these procedures ,of education. you have to be careful obviously as don't want yourself injured or horse injuring itself, So would most likely use an implement (soft polythene pipe could be useful) in some way . to keep a safe distance from flying hooves, when getting the horse into a starting gate, horse float or swimming Pool.  NOTHING to do with cruelty IMO. 

 

[Joe Bloggs]

K4 fine, so from now on you have to watch every staff member 24/7 or it will cost you.....

[holy ravioli]

The underlying reason for this type of action is PR with the public at large.There is an ever increasing cohort of anti racing factions,animal cruelty etc that want to ban racing.

Front footing allegations however spurious is a good antidote when the inevitable confrontation occurs.

[nomates]

Don't give the activists a fart to complain about , best way to stifle them . To be honest it's not a good look for even joe average now .