Welfare charity issues statement about viral Mark Todd video clip

World Horse Welfare has voiced its official response to a detrimental video clip that has arisen of former eventer Mark Todd

World Horse Welfare has released an official statement in response to a recently emerged social media video that depicts one of its patrons, retired eventer Sir Mark Todd, in a negative light. The video in question, which appeared on TikTok last week, shows Sir Mark hitting a horse with a branch several times to get it to go through a water obstacle.

The video has caused outcry among the equestrian community, and Sir Mark has since issued a personal apology statement.

“I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse, and all involved for my actions in this video clip,” he said. “One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider, and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results.”

A spokesperson for World Horse Welfare has also released a statement on behalf of the charity following flurry of interest generated over the weekend, reflecting the organisation’s views on the matter: “The treatment of the horse in this video is disturbing and unacceptable,” it begins. “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. Mark is a consummate horseman, who cares deeply for horses and their welfare but, in this case, either through losing his patience or acting out of frustration, he has badly let himself down.”

The statement continues: “To his credit, when the video came to Mark’s attention, he contacted us and voluntarily stepped down as one of our patrons. We all need to take heed from this episode. If equestrian sport, which we actively support, is to continue to maintain the acceptance of the public – its social license – there cannot be any tolerance for unacceptable practices, no matter how experienced the rider or trainer.”

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), with whom Sir Mark holds a training licence after retiring from eventing in 2019, is believed to be ‘looking into the incident’. In a statement released by the BHA, it was said: “The footage seen this weekend of Sir Mark Todd hitting a horse with a branch has rightly caused anger and upset within the equestrian community and beyond.

“His behaviour, for which he has apologised, fell a long way short of the standards of care we expect of licensed individuals and that we know is provided to the overwhelming majority of horses in training in Britain every day.”