The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association has condemned the shocking picture of trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse that emerged over the weekend.
The image is being investigated by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and The British Horseracing Authority has said Elliott can't run horses in the UK while the probe is ongoing.
In the photo, the trainer is seen sitting while on his phone and gesturing towards the camera.
An IRTA statement read: "The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA) utterly condemns the image that emerged over the weekend.
"As one of our most prominent and successful members, Gordon has a duty of care to his horses and this great sport but he has let down both himself and horse racing.
"However, we acknowledge his apology and recognise what is a very difficult time for him both professionally and personally."
Elliott said his world is 'crumbling' around him as he apologised to the racing industry on Monday night.
The Meath trainer told the Racing Post: "It is indefensible. Whether alive or dead, the horse was entitled to dignity. A moment of madness that I am going to have to spend the rest of my life paying for and that my staff are suffering for.
"I will be punished, I fully understand that. But it absolutely breaks my heart to read and hear people say that I have no respect for my horses. That couldn't be further from the truth.
"My whole life has revolved around horses since I was a child. I know nothing else. Horses are all I have. I came from nothing and built a dream.
"When your world starts crumbling in front of you, it's a scary place to be. I just hope people can understand how truly sorry I am and find some way to forgive me for what I have done."
Meanwhile, decorated jockey Ruby Walsh described the photo as 'appalling'.
Speaking on RTE 2FM, Walsh said: "I thought I knew it (the horse racing industry) inside out. A picture paints a thousand words, but that only painted one and that's indefensible".
He added: "When I looked at it I felt angry, I felt embarrassed for my sport and I felt very sad in myself.
"The embarrassing part to think is that people could think that we can all be tarred with the same brush. That is not the way, in any of the establishments I've worked in, that things are done
"It's an appalling picture, and as I said at the beginning (of the interview) it's not defensible."
