A local hunt saboteurs group helped expose a huntswoman slapping a horse in the face.

Anti-hunting campaign group Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs shared a viral video on Twitter showing a horse being slapped several times and kicked.

The video itself was not in the county and is believed to be in Rutland, with the rider part of a foxhound pack called Cottesmore Hunt.

However the Hertfordshire-based group managed to use its platform on Sunday (November 7) to circulate the footage which shows the woman attacking the horse multiple times after it tried to go to a road.

The footage shows the woman appearing to aggressively pull the horse into the back of a trailer.

Talking to ITV News, Cottesmore Hunt said that it did not condone the activities and that the behaviour shown in the video “will not be tolerated”.

A spokesman from the Hunting Office said: "The Hunting Office expects the highest level of animal welfare at all times - both on and off the hunting field - and condemns the actions taken by this individual, who is not a member of the hunting associations."

Leicestershire Police confirmed the RSCPA is leading the investigation and that the force will assist as required.

Now the RSPCA has launched an appeal as the charity says it is investigating the video.

The RSPCA said in a statement: "This footage is really upsetting. We will always look into complaints made to us about animal welfare.

"We would urge anyone with first hand information about this incident to contact us on 0300 123 4999."