Showjumper accused of whipping horse in video

A showjumper who won two Olympic gold medals has been accused of whipping a horse with a branch to force it to enter a pool of water during training.

Sir Mark Todd, a racehorse trainer who lives in Swindon, can be seen striking the animal on the legs 10 times in a video posted on TikTok.

The footage is a few years old, and it is not known where it was filmed, who owns the horse or who was riding it.

Last night, Sir Mark, 65, issued an apology, saying it was an isolated incident and out of character.

An Irish equine supply company that posted the clip on its Facebook page said it would no longer sell any Mark Todd products.

Sir Mark won his medals for New Zealand at the 1984 and 1988 Games.