Olympic champion suspended after hitting horse with branch

Olympic champion Sir Mark Todd has been suspended by the horseracing authorities after a video showed the trainer striking a horse with a branch.

Todd has admitted “the individual involved in the video was him” and the interim suspension means he will be unable to race horses in “Great Britain or internationally”.

In the video, Todd appears to be teaching a cross-country schooling session where one rider is struggling to get a horse into the water jump.

BHA confirms interim suspension of Sir Mark Toddhttps://t.co/nkjFFzmuCT

He is seen using a branch to strike the horse several times on the hindquarters – and later apologised for his actions.

Todd was a highly successful three-day eventer before taking out his training licence.

He won two Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988 for New Zealand and earned a knighthood in 2013 for his equestrian achievements.

His “disturbing and unacceptable” actions have led to widespread condemnation, with Todd being branded “a disgrace of a human” by one equine supplies company.

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In a statement released on Wednesday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said: “This interim suspension means that while investigations continue into the circumstances of this incident, Sir Mark will be unable to race horses in Great Britain or internationally.

“The trainer has admitted the individual involved in the video was him, has apologised for his actions and agreed to the imposition of an interim suspension.

“On Sunday the BHA condemned the video and confirmed that it was looking into the incident.

“The interim suspension has been approved on the basis that it can be reviewed at a later date if necessary, on application by either party.”

‘No place in the horse-human partnership for such use of force’

Earlier this week, Todd said “I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip” and that he was “disappointed in myself”.

He has also stepped down from his role as a patron for World Horse Welfare, which said in a statement: “The treatment of the horse in this video is disturbing and unacceptable.

“There is no place in the horse-human partnership for such use of force. Mark agrees that his behaviour was wrong and we welcome his apology.”

Equine and farm supply company Equiwarehouse will no longer sell any of Todd’s merchandise.

In a statement on Facebook, the firm said: “With no regret at all, we will no longer be selling any Mark Todd clothing, horse wear or feed. Mark Todd Eventing you should be utterly ashamed of yourself, vile ‘professional’ and disgrace of a human.”

Land Rover told Sky Sports News it is “extremely disappointed” by the video and is “actively investigating” – Todd has been the equestrian ambassador for Land Rover in the UK since 2017.

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