Read the original article by Andrew Parker at thesun.co.uk here.
An Easter sheep race held for 30 years has been scrapped after threats from militant animal rights campaigners.
The flock jumped over mini Grand National-style fences with dummy jockeys on their backs to reach food treats left at the end of the course.
Farm owner Will Dorrell, 27, said: “It’s a real shame but I’ve got to think about our safety.
“We’ve been branded ‘scum’, ‘vile’, ‘evil’ and ‘butchers’ and had threats of physical violence.
“Some have suggested coming down with bolt cutters and setting the sheep free and some have threatened violence towards the animals, which is ironic considering they promote animal welfare.
“But none of them know how it works and I have been completely transparent and invited them down to prove there is no cruelty or abuse involved.
“They had no interest in that but a petition was launched against the race which attracted quite a lot of signatures in a short space of time.”
He added: “Sheep naturally run and jump and we don’t use whips or smacking or anything like that, just some treats at the end of the course.”
A spokesman for The Vegan Society claimed the sheep at Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, near Telford, Shropshire, were not living happy lives but being “exploited”.
He added “We are not aware of any of the facts or circumstances around the situation with the organisers of the event.
“But as a charity, The Vegan Society does not condone threatening behaviour or illegal activity towards anyone.”
Animal rights campaigner Samantha Francis gloated over the decision to halt the event.
She said: “We do not believe that animals are ours to use for entertainment or for any other reason.
“We have received abuse too. I received an email calling us all ‘c***s’.”
Other events targeted by vegans include the Crufts dog show, disrupted by activists this month.
Last month a young woman farmer was threatened with rape, death and kidnap by militant vegans — and a dairy farmer and his family also received death threats after he shared pictures of newborn calves online.
