Sam Jones, the CEO of Equestrian Australia, added: “It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter.
“Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can.
“We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures.”
Ryan represented Australia in dressage at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and finished seventh.
He said the horse, named Nico, came to him after an accident which resulted in a female rider needing hospital treatment.
The Australian said that Nico “had always been a problem child and would just not stop” and after the video he was able to rehome the horse.
Ryan said, external: “I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the knackery.
“That video was a life or death moment for Nico and I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options.
“All of this transpired sincerely with the horse’s best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video.”
Britain’s three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin missed the Paris Games last year after a video emerged of her repeatedly striking a horse around its legs with a long whip.
She was subsequently banned for a year by the FEI.
