Tom McEwen admits 'shock' over Charlotte Dujardin horse whip video but insists the sport's horses are treated 'like kings and queens' as the equestrian gets under way at Paris Olympics

On the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, a member of Britain’s equestrian royalty declared that the sport’s horses were treated ‘like kings and queens’ following the Charlotte Dujardin scandal.

Eventer Tom McEwen, who was awarded an MBE after landing gold in Tokyo, had the dubious honour of being the first Team GB entrant to be questioned on Dujardin’s Olympics ban, which came after harrowing footage of her whipping a horse 24 times was leaked.

The son of a Lambourn vet told reporters that the saga had come as ‘a complete shock’ but was adamant that the footage was not a glimpse into a problem some have suggested is endemic - and invited those present to visit his own yard to see for themselves.

McEwen, who also landed silver in Japan, got his campaign off to a sterling start in the dressage under stormy Parisian skies - and then eloquently navigated the dark clouds of the Dujardin aftermath.

‘These horses are looked after like kings and queens,’ he said. ‘It's obviously come as a complete shock for all of us, what's come to light. But actually I think it's really important for the rest of us to really put a shining light on our amazing sport.’

McEwen, ranked number three in the world, did make the distinction between dressage – Dujardin’s discipline - and eventing.

‘I believe eventing is one of the great sports,’ the 33-year-old said. ‘We are the triathlon of the horse world. I'd be more than happy for anyone to come to our yard to see how well these horses are looked after. I do agree it was a massive shock to the equestrian world. But I believe that this week, all of us here will show the sport to be the amazing sport that it is.’

Dujardin apologised and admitted an error of judgement after being made aware that the clip had been sent to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). She voluntarily withdrew from the Games before being slapped with a six-month provisional suspension while an investigation is carried out.

The Dutch lawyer who raised the complaint said the disturbing clip captured her treating the horse ‘like an elephant in a circus’ during the training session.

Since then, Dujardin has lost a number of sponsors and was also ‘universally condemned’ by the board of the International Dressage Riders Club, which includes her long-term mentor and team-mate Carl Hester.

McEwen, who is based at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, along with Princess Anne, also displayed empathy towards Dujardin.

‘I definitely don't condone at all Charlotte's behaviour but she has put her hands up to it and she's owned it,’ he added.

‘Realistically it's not really for me to say (what the outcome of the investigation should be), it's for the course of the process and the people to decide what punishment she should be getting for her actions. Realistically at the end of it she is a human being as well so it's important to respect her rights as well.’

McEwen, who performed well on 13-year-old JL Dublin, added that the team had managed to keep its minds on the task at hand.

‘We weren't expecting it at all,’ he said. ‘But realistically we've come here to come and do our job which is the eventing team and obviously we've got dressage today, cross country tomorrow and jumping on Monday. We've got our own focuses and with eventing you don't really get too much time on your hands.’