Adelaide Hills equestrian Anthony Thomas charged with ill treatment of an animal

A well-known South Australian horseman will appear in court charged with ill treatment of an animal after a shock video emerged.

South Australian equestrian Anthony Thomas, who has been charged with ill treatment of an animal, riding horse Fluke during a showjumping event at Colley Reserve in 1999.

One of South Australia’s leading equestrian identities has been charged with animal cruelty over allegations he physically attacked a horse.

RSPCA inspectors will allege in court that Adelaide Hills-based Anthony Dean Thomas, 49, used a riding helmet to repeatedly strike the horse on its head.

In a statement on Monday, the animal welfare organisation said the attack “thereby allegedly (caused) unnecessary harm” to the horse.

After a more than six-month investigation, the RSPCA said it had charged the man, from Paechtown, on Mt Barker’s outskirts, with one count of ill treatment of an animal.

Under state law, if convicted, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is a $20,000 fine or two years in prison.

A still grab from a video unearthed in May appearing to show Anthony Thomas striking a horse.

Mr Thomas will face court on Thursday on a charge of ill treatment of an animal.

Mr Thomas, who is considered a high-profile identity in the Olympic sport, is due to appear in the Mt Barker Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A video published in May appeared to show Mr Thomas striking a showjumping horse using his equestrian helmet.

It is unclear precisely when the footage was taken but it was believed to have been filmed at his 45ha, $3m Oakside Park Stud facility, near Hahndorf, which Mr Thomas is now selling.

Mr Thomas was not available for comment on Monday morning. In a statement issued through his lawyers in May, he apologised for the controversy.

Mr Thomas apologised for the controversy but later said his apology did not amount to an admission of liability over the incident. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the equestrian community publicly, regarding recent events,” he said.

“I’ve acknowledged that I have allowed a culmination of many traumatic events over the past six months to affect my mental health and interfere with my behaviour.

“I’m seeking assistance and support to ensure this will never happen again.”

Subsequent to making the public statement, his lawyer said it did not amount to an admission of liability over the incident.

Mr Thomas’ lawyer later said his client did not issue an apology over the video, and “did not admit, as is assumed by (Equestrian Australia), that he was the person shown in the video”.

Mr Thomas is also facing an unrelated Federal Court sexual harassment lawsuit that a younger rider Kate Crauford, 24, has launched.

He denies wrongdoing in that case.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call its 24-hour cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722.