Anthony Thomas resigns from Equestrian South Australia after leaked video of horse abuse

A high-profile SA horse trainer has resigned from the state’s peak equestrian body, with his lawyer moving to “correct a number of matters” after an abuse video emerged.

A high-profile South Australian horse trainer has resigned from the state’s peak equestrian body amid investigations into animal abuse at a stable.

Anthony Dean Thomas, 49, has tendered his notice of resignation from Equestrian South Australia, which sits under the country’s leading organisation – Equestrian Australia.

Mr Thomas’ lawyer on Thursday sought to “correct a number of matters” published since footage of the alleged abuse surfaced late last week.

In a statement, the ESA board said Mr Thomas had provided the organisation with his “notice of resignation” on Monday.

“Equestrian South Australia has been advised there has been a provisional suspension notice issued to Anthony Thomas in relation to this matter,” the statement read.

“This resignation from ESA will be effective 13 June 2024.

“Members are reminded any form of horse abuse will not be tolerated and if witnessed should be reported to EA Integrity.”

EA on Monday told The Advertiser Thomas had been provisionally suspended, pending the “outcomes of various investigations including from external bodies”.

That is understood to include the RSPCA.

Equestrian Australia is the sport’s governing body, with branches covering every state and territory.

As such, membership to a state-based branch automatically grants membership to EA.

Anthony Thomas has tendered his resignation to Equestrian South Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

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

“The suspension was imposed by EA on the basis that the (unproved) actions of my client posed a risk of harm to “other participants”,” the lawyer told The Advertiser.

“There is no evidence at all that anything that my client may have done would constitute such a risk.

“I have not until now addressed these matters as I was more concerned with my client’s mental health.

“Other than hope that you will publish the foregoing, my client does not wish to ventilate this matter further.

“Now that my client has resigned as a member of ESA, neither it nor EA has any jurisdiction to proceed against him.

“I trust that these organisations will carefully study their rules and not cause this matter to again land up in court, where on the last occasion EA found itself being ordered to pay my client a substantial sum in costs.”