An equestrian expert has condemned a video which appears to show a top British Olympian using a whip during a coaching session as "shocking".

British dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin's hopes of gold medal glory at the Paris Olympics were dashed after a video emerged showing a training session from four years ago of which she said she was "deeply ashamed".

She was provisionally suspended by equestrian's governing body with immediate effect for "engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare" - prompting her to pull out of the Games.

East Anglia-based equestrian sports expert Vanessa Britton - editor of Equestrian Business and one-time mid-level jumper and eventer - questioned the timing of the emergence of the video but said the rules needed to be obeyed.

Things had changed and "more dubious" practices were no longer used. Horses were not forced as they would have been in a previous era, Ms Britton - former editor of EQ Life and equestrian correspondent for the East Anglian Daily Times and Eastern Daily Press - suggested.

"I think at the end of the day it's a shocking incident. Rightly so, she's having to reflect on it," she said. "I know she's saying it's completely out of character. She's not trying to defend it in any way."

But Ms Britton did question how it had taken so long for this video to come to the attention of the governing authorities. "My biggest issue is it's taken four years for this to come out," she said.

Vanessa Britton (Image: Vanessa Britton)

"What's prompted this to come out just before the Olympics? That's the issue for me."

But the rider "absolutely" should face consequences, she said. "At the end of the day whatever the position is with any sport or any body you have to abide by that.

"She's the most influential person in dressage today. When you have this profile you have to be seen to be abiding by everything and having the care of the horse at the forefront of everything you do."

Ms Britton - who is based at Hingham in Norfolk and attends events throughout the region - added: "The damage to reputation is huge. The damage to reputation to her and also to the sport in general.

Whips can be used in training - but should be used to help the horse understand what you want it to do and not to strike it, she said. Generally they do not touch the horse - but instead the animals are guided by the sound and "swoosh" of the whip, she explained.

"A whip is used in training and is used as an extension to an aid. It should never be used as punishment," she said. "Touching the horse is crossing the line a little bit. I think the issue is the horse is not understanding and I think that's the issue for me."

Three-time Olympic dressage champion Ms Dujardin, 39, said the incident was "an error of judgement".

"Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition - including the Paris Olympics - while this process takes place," she said.

"What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.

"I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.

"I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete."