Mark Todd back in the saddle

Olympic equestrian champion Mark Todd to attempt qualification for Beijing Olympics eight years after retiring

23 January 2008
World Championship and Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd is coming out of retirement and wants to represent New Zealand at the Beijing Olympics this year.

Todd has had plenty of involvement with horses in the eight years since he retired from equestrian, but only race horses. The 51-year-old says he will have to get his eye back in.

Olympic gold medallist Blyth Tait, who is now the Eventing New Zealand High Performance Director, says Todd's decision is 'very gusty'. He says it will be a race against the clock to be prepared in time, but Todd knows what it takes and he has the experience, talent and ability.

Mark Todd and his new mount - 10-year-old grey gelding Gandalf - will test the waters at some lower-level events in the South Island before the first major outing at Arran Station in Hawke's Bay on February 24 and the Puhinui Three Day Event in Manukau City on March 13-16.

Todd won two gold, a silver and two bronze Olympic medals in a distinguished career. He won gold medals as a member of the New Zealand team at the world championships in 1990 and 1998, and he won the Badminton Horse Trials three times and the Burghley three-day trials on five occasions. The International Equestrian Federation voted him Rider of the 20th Century, and his partnership with Charisma is part of New Zealand sporting folklore.

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