DUTCH rider Jur Vrieling has vowed that there will not be a repeat of the incident that saw him disqualified from today’s Olympic show jumping round for ‘excessive use of spurs or whip’ on his mount Zirocco Blue.

The rider has been disqualified from the individual show jumping competition but will be allowed to jump again as part of the Dutch team on Tuesday.

Vrieling said: “I was encouraging him, saying ‘come on boy, don’t do this again’. I should not have given him these extra pushes. It is stupid, this happened in the heat of the moment, and it will not happen again.”

Vrieling was booed by the crowd at Deodoro when he overused the whip on Zirocco Blue after the horse refused twice.

Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) was disqualified for overuse of his spurs when Zilverstar T was another to refuse at the Musical Instruments bogey double.

This should not happen and will not happen again

The Dutch team coach, Rob Ehrens, added: “I've been a professional rider for 27 years and I know the feeling when everything goes wrong. But this should not happen and will not happen again.

“While Jur and Zirocco Blue are chasing medals, this has to be handled professionally. We will use tomorrow to relax Zirocco Blue.”

Stephan Ellenbruch, President of the Rio 2016 Equestrian Olympic Ground Jury, said: “We can confirm that Jur Vrieling has been disqualified from today’s individual Jumping competition.

The FEI’s rules are very specific - if any blood is found on the flank of a horse, the Athlete/Horse combination is automatically disqualified from the competition.

The veterinarians on site have examined the horse, Zirocco Blue, and will continue to monitor to ensure he is fit to compete on Tuesday, 16 August for the Jumping Team Round 1 qualifier event.”

THE FEI RULE

Vrieling was disqualified under the following FEI rule.

Article 242.3.1 of the FEI Jumping Rules: Horses bleeding on the flank(s), in the mouth or nose or marks indicating excessive use of spurs or of the whip anywhere on the Horse (in minor cases of blood in the mouth, such as where a Horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip, Officials may authorize the rinsing or wiping of the mouth and allow the Athlete to continue; any further evidence of blood in the mouth will result in Disqualification.)

Download The Irish Field News App now to stay up to date with all Rio 2016 news