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SARGA.CO — Think twice before whipping a horse — especially if you work in the professional horse racing industry as a trainer, breeder, or jockey.
This warning comes after a trainer in Tasmania was fined for excessive use of the whip, despite claiming it wasn’t done out of anger.
Liandra Gray was fined US$2,000 (approximately Rp32 million) after being found guilty of animal cruelty for whipping her horse over 40 times within four minutes.
According to The Guardian, the Devonport Court in May ruled that Gray had violated the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act by excessively whipping a seven-year-old thoroughbred named The Bolt with a racing whip.
The act was carried out by Gray on a 7-year-old purebred stallion named The Bolt, using a racing whip.
Following the guilty verdict, Gray was fined US$2,000 for violating the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act. Under this law, the maximum penalty for such offenses is a fine of US$18,000 or 12 months' imprisonment.
The Bolt is known to have rarely competed in races, having never placed in any of his 11 starts. According to witness testimonies in court, The Bolt is considered a difficult horse to train, with a particularly challenging temperament.
During the trial, CCTV footage from Spreyton racecourse was presented. The video showed Gray leading The Bolt to a sand roll area — a space typically used for horses to roll after training sessions.
While holding the reins, she could be seen and heard whipping the horse.
Gray defended her actions by claiming she was not punishing the horse, but rather encouraging it to perform a "sand roll" — a training technique meant to get the horse to roll on the ground. However, the court rejected this defense, because it contradicts witness testimonies.
Although the horse did not suffer any lasting injuries, The Bolt was found to have sustained moderate to severe pain due to the whipping.
The judge acknowledged that Gray had no prior history of cruelty and considered her financial and family circumstances in the sentencing. The case still drew major media attention, damaging Gray’s reputation and social standing.
The court also noted that The Bolt was in a vulnerable state — restrained and confined indoors — when the incident occurred, which added to the severity of the offense.
Given these factors, the judge opted not to impose the maximum penalty, acknowledging that the fine alone would have a lasting impact on Gray’s future in the racing industry.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Tasmania had previously banned Gray from owning or training animals. However, the judge deemed that ruling irrelevant in this case, as Gray had no criminal record.
This wasn’t Gray’s first offense. In 2023, she was fined US$4,000 by the Tasmanian Office of Racing Integrity for another incident of horse mistreatment, violating Australian racing regulations.
Gray has been involved in horse racing for 20 years. Starting as a track worker, she has trained 39 winning horses, with 33 podium finishes and a total prize earnings of US$1.2 million for their owners.
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