Sanctions against those who abuse horses have been toughened by the body that governs equestrian sports globally.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) voted on amendments to the regulations at its annual general meeting in the United Arab Emirates.

They include increasing the length of bans imposed on any rider, owner or team member found to have breached its standards for the ethical treatment of competitive horses.

“High-end” mistreatment of horses can now be punished with a ban of three to 10 years, compared to two to five years previously, while the tariff for “maximum” mistreatment is between 10 years and life.

The sanction for horse abuse, which the FEI considers “low-end”, was increased from a ban of up to three months to six months, while the “average” sanction was increased from three months to two years between six months and three years.

The changes which will come into force on January 1 follow a series of abuse scandals in equestrian sports in recent years.

The most significant controversy involved Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time Olympic gold medalist on the British team, who was banned from competing in dressage events at this year’s Paris Games after a video emerged of her whipping excessively a horse was shared online.

The 39-year-old subsequently lost the majority of her sponsorships and has made no public comments since posting her apology for the incident on social media.

Dujardin is the subject of an ongoing disciplinary investigation by the FEI, which suspended her from competition in July.

The amended rules also include for the first time the implementation of sanctions for “witness intimidation and retaliation.”

Meanwhile, penalties for “discrediting the FEI and/or equestrian sport” have also been increased, from a maximum of one year to between five years and life.

The changes to the anti-doping rules mean the FEI is entitled to ask its trainers and owners for information on the whereabouts of any horse registered with the organisation, and that horses will be subject to out-of-competition anti-doping controls.

Horse hair and skin samples can now be included in drug tests, in addition to blood and urine.