News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune has been caught on camera apparently trying to kick her horse during a prestigious show-jumping competition.

Jazz Johnson-Merton was competing in the contest in New York, US, when she appeared to lose her temper after being thrown from her horse, Joe Cool.

Video from the sidelines of the Hampton Classic Horse Show appears to show the heiress pulling at the animal's reins before swinging her leg up at him.

She then seems to try to kick the horse in his stomach.

Ms Johnson-Merton, 36, struggles to pull the horse back to the side, before apparently tugging on his reins again, according to the footage.

(Image: Patrick McMullan)

It is not clear whether she made contact with the horse during the incident earlier this month.

Experts say it is unlikely she hurt him.

This incident was spotted by the show's judges, Mike Rosser and Chris Wynne.

Mr Wynne claimed to Equestrian magazine The Chronicle of the Horse : "She got up, lost her temper and tried to kick the horse in the stomach.

"I’m not sure she made contact, but then she trotted the horse out of the ring, in hand, and I watched her from the judge’s booth go into the schooling area to see if she was going to do something, and she didn't.

"She got a leg back up, jumped two jumps and came back in."

Mr Wynne deemed the incident 'unsportsmanlike', but said the horse was probably not hurt .

Last year, EQ Media revealed that Joe Cool actually belonged to Ms Johnson-Merton's daughter, Willa Merton.

A statement from the United States Equestrian Federation confirmed an investigation had been launched into the incident on September 1.

It read: "The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) holds the welfare and safety of horse and rider as paramount to its mission as evidenced by the recent Board of Directors’ approval of new, tougher welfare and safety penalty guidelines.

"USEF is in receipt of written reports and a video of the incident.

(Image: Patrick McMullan)

"These reports and the video provide an account of Ms. Johnson-Merton’s actions following a fall from her horse during competition. USEF has launched an investigation into the full circumstances of this matter. The USEF will conduct this investigation and any subsequent actions in accordance with their regulatory rules and procedures.

"The USEF rules are in place to ensure that horse welfare and safety are protected at all times."

Ms Johnson-Merton is an heiress of the Johnson & Johnson empire, and co-authored a book called the Social Climber.

In the biography section of the book's website, she says she has been photographed for Vogue, created a line of her own jewelry, and is a distinguished horsewoman.

She calls herself an 'insider in that rarefied world fans of Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey dream about and social climbers of all ages want to belong to'.

Ms, Johnson-Merton did not respond to requests for comment.