The incident looked a little something like this…

Thousands of West Ham fans travelled to the north east on Wednesday to see their side get battered by Middlesbrough in a half empty stadium. Understandably, the performance left many fans unhappy, but some took the defeat a lot worse than others.

A dejected Spoiler reader tells us he was leaving the Riverside Stadium when some aggravation between rival supporters threatened to break out. Police on horses stepped in to calm the situation, but this inflamed the temper of one West Ham fan, who proceeded to land a right hook in the the face of one unsuspecting horse.

“It was quite shocking,” said the witness.

Man takes out aggression on large defenseless animal

In news that will shock PETA members and people who have ‘I slow down for horses’ stickers in the back of their Volvos, Stoke fan Shaun Allen has been banned from attending football matches for three years after he punched a policeman’s steed at the Reebok:

A police officer took a can off Allen and asked the group to move on, but Allen became abusive.

Mark France, prosecuting, told the court that Allen struck the horse and ran off, but was arrested by other police officers.

On Friday he pleaded guilty to causing harassment, alarm and distress.

For his crime against law enforcing animals, the Stoke fan was also made to pay a £200 fine, £100 costs and a baffling £15 victim surcharge. What is a horse going to do with £15? And what’s the going rate for kicking a sniffer dog? Just asking…

[Bolton News via WithLeather, who should be commended for their inspired use of Blazing Saddles]