Ashlee Watts - horse abuse

[Sdel]

According to the For Dazzle site, Dr Hackett is testifying today. Knows Watts professionally from Cornell so she can testify to her reasoning in the use of the hot shot.

Highlights shared so far is that a horse’s vulva isn’t particularly sensitive as compared to other parts of the body. Implys she’s used a hot shot therapeuticly (?) on a pt with radial nerve injury. Says it’s not abuse and that a hot shot is like using a dog shock collar. Again calls the use of the hot shot “taps” as training and “natural horsemanship”.

My comment: excuse me, but we got rid of electro therapy use in people a long time ago for a reason. No one on earth would ever dream of shocking a person 800 times over the course of two hours and get away with calling it medically justified or behavior training.

[Ghazzu]

@Sdel

Highlights shared so far is that a horse’s vulva isn’t particularly sensitive as compared to other parts of the body.

I betcha she wouldn’t attempt a Caslick’s without a local…

[Ghazzu]

@alyssaequestrian

ust popping in to say that cattle prods (hot shots) are present in almost every equine hospital l, however are used for VERY specific situations, such as a horse down in the trailer or a horse down in a stall that needs to get up to get to colic surgery. In a very busy clinic, I would say it gets maybe used 3 times a year, out of thousands of cases.

(Please no one take this to say I agree with this woman I think what she did is indescribable)

Agreed.
I have seen one used/used one myself on two, maybe three occasions in over 50 years with horses.
And they were applied once or twice.

[Sdel]

I feel like I need to clarify: according to the sources who have been in the room, these vets aren’t testifying that the use of a hot shot isn’t abuse; they are testifying that it isn’t abuse in this particular situation while narrating a video of what is happening to Allie. Each vet that has testified so far has justified, in time with a video, as to why each use of the hot shot is either not justified and absolutely abuse or was justified and not abuse.

That video shows a hot shot being used 800-1,000 times, on places such as the vulva, head, ears, eyes, udder, the surgical site, etc, and all the while, Allie is reacting and scrambling to get away. It is CCTV, so there is no sound to the video, but there was testimony to the sounds Allie was making. All of those things occur in just 1 minute of video (can be found on YouTube still), but the entire video is supposed to be 90-120 minutes. Best I can figure, the jury and audience in the court room has now seen this video at least half a dozen times already.

[Ghazzu]

@Sdel

feel like I need to clarify: according to the sources who have been in the room, these vets aren’t testifying that the use of a hot shot isn’t abuse; they are testifying that it isn’t abuse while narrating a video of what is happening to Allie. Each vet that has testified so far has justified, in time with a video, as to why each use of the hot shot is either not justified and absolutely abuse or was justified and not abuse.

Oh, FFS, that’s like saying if smacking a horse once isn’t abuse, then beating the tar out of him for half an hour isn’t abuse.

[Sdel]

And to top it off, they are equating this with dressage and natural horsemanship training principles.

[endlessclimb]

I guess electric spurs and electric poles are used in jumping so that might be a more apt comparison.

[Sdel]

Brief video update by For Dazzle before court this am.

As expected, Hackett’s testimony essentially revealed she and Watts are two peas in a pod. She apparently supplied no real input or opinion submitted to the court outside of her testimony as Watts’ friend from Cornell who 100% supported her use of the hot shot on Allie. She had to turn over her notes from being in the court audience.

She is retired as a veterinarian. She did testify to “vigorous” use of a hot shot in her practice. And she identified the source that such use is acceptable as a now deceased Cornell veterinary professor, who she reported to also have a history of “vigorous” use.

There was a witness that was a PI that basically confirmed that there were calls and texts between Watts and Allie’s owner. Since Allie’s owner had already testified: mostly that the communication there was with Watts was limited; and denied it was about euthanasia; that maybe Watts is planning on testifying since she is the only one who can testify to the contents of those records.

They are going to try to wrap up the trial today or tomorrow.

[CanteringCarrot]

So much that I don’t understand about this

[Sdel]

For Dazzle is now discussing some of the points addressed on the defense side.

One, that has already been touched on: the idea that this use of the hot shot was an attempt to “train” Allie to stand. She says what hasn’t been articulated well, is that you don’t need to train a horse to stand, it is a flight animal, and everyone involved with horses, especially to the level as being a vet, does (or should) understand that.

The second point brought during Dr. Hackett’s testimony is the idea that vets are god (my phrasing). According to the update Dr. Hackett asserted that vets should not be scrutinized or held accountable for their abuse: specifically in reference to hot shot use, even if it is obviously excessive. Further that the acquisition of a veterinary license gave them a social license to do what they needed to do, whether the client was privy to that information or not, to effect. Argues that if vets are afraid to use the hot shot the results would be a significant increase in the loss of life. It seems she did agree that if this circumstance was a horse down in a random person’s barn and that random person had used a hot shot like this: then that would have been abuse. But it’s okay for a vet because they are doing it for “the good of the horse”.

The road to hell is paved in “good intentions” alright.

[Sdel]

Defense has now rested their case……

On to expert rebuttals for the prosecution.

[TwiSedai]

Thank you for the updates!

[Sdel]

Closing arguments were today. Jury instructions being negotiated. Local media in the courtroom today. Court room was packed for the finale.

Praying the jury decides to stand up for the horse.

[endlessclimb]

@Sdel

But it’s okay for a vet because they are doing it for “the good of the horse”.

Think this could apply to that premature foal?

[CanteringCarrot]

@endlessclimb

@Sdel

But it’s okay for a vet because they are doing it for “the good of the horse”.

Think this could apply to that premature foal?

Ugh to that whole thing.

[Sdel]

Verdict in. Not sure what it is yet, but it’s in.

Looks like it was just shy of 30 minutes between updates that everything was wrapped up and that there was a verdict.

[Ghazzu]

Guilty.

[Sdel]

[Joanne]

I was talking to a relative yesterday about this case. I told her I actually hate this vet. She says, oh no you don’t. Yes, I really do.

So happy for the guilty verdict and justice for Allie and Dazzle and any others that she hurt.

[Joanne]

So is this rule going into effect on December 1, 2024, retroactive so that Ashlee Watts hopefully won’t be able to compete after that date? Or does it start for any abuse reported after 12/1?