The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has handed former New Zealand Olympic great Sir Mark Todd a four month ban from training horses after a video showed him hitting a horse with a tree branch in 2020.
The 66-year-old was deemed to have engaged in "conduct prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain by striking a horse multiple times with a tree branch" during what was a cross-country schooling session.
However, since Sir Mark was already handed an interim suspension on February 16, 2022, and had freely admitted to the charge and apologised, he was deemed to have already served half of his sentence. The remaining two months have been deferred until June 14 when, if no further transgressions are committed, they are expected to be wiped from his sentence.
The ruling means he can resume racehorse training with immediate effect.
Following the hearing, Sir Mark told Horse and Hound he was grateful the episode had been put to rest and thanked the "many people who have sent messages and letters of support throughout the period".