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Not only described as the most successful event rider of all time, Mark Todd has been described by many as one of the most successful athletes of all time. A statement hard to disagree with when you consider how many sports stars manage to stay at the very top of their sport for 20 years.

Mark stated to ride from an early age in his native New Zealand and his enthusiasm was matched by his ability even then to get the best from his rides. By 1980 he had sold his diary herd and traveled to the UK and it was that year, that this promising young rider took the world of eventing by storm, winning Badminton Horse Trials at his first attempt. Partnered by Southern Comfort III he had managed to push the then three time winner Lucinda Prior-Palmer down into second place.

If Badminton was a proving ground for Mark, the country's other top event, Burghley, proved more of a problem and it wasn't until 1987 that Mark managed to take top honours there.

In all Mark has won Badminton three times (1980, 1994, 1996), and Burghley an amazing five times (1987, 90, 91, 97 and 99). Adding to Mark's reputation as a world class horse man, some of his successes came when he took over from injured riders at very short notice. Sometimes literally collecting the ride the week of the competition having never ridden the horse before. Mark added even more to his reputation as the world's best, when he famously rode Bertie Blunt around Badminton cross country with only one stirrup, after a stirrup leather broke early on in the course. A ride that will be long remembered by those lucky enough to witness it.

As well as being a dominating figure in UK eventing during the 1980s and 90s, Mark also proved himself to be a team player when he and his fellow New Zealanders took team gold at the 1990 Stockholm World Games and again in 1998 at the World Games in Rome.

It is the Olympics however that Mark will be best remembered for, in particularly his partnership with the 15.2 hands Charisma, a horse Mark thought too small for his 6ft+ frame.

Their first success came at Los Angeles in 1984, when he won individual gold on the inimitable Charisma. In second place after cross country, Mark and Charisma rode a brilliant clear show jumping round under enormous pressure. Until then no rider from New Zealand had even been placed in the top 20 of an individual event. It was last to go Karen Stives riding on home turf who would decide the medals and when Karen and her ride Ben Arthur dropped the second to last fence, Mark and Charisma were crowned Olympic Champions by a margin of just 2.6 points.

Mark and Charisma

Once back in the UK, Mark continued to work hard, but it wasn't long before he started to think about his preparations for the next Olympics in Seoul. Charisma was never an easy horse to ride, described by Mark as too clever for his own good, they were often seen leaving the schooling arena, Mark red faced and Charisma literally foaming at the mouth in fury. As Seoul got closer Mark was hopeful, but not wanting to wear Charisma out, wound him down a little. When they were seen competing, success, particularly in the dressage phase was proving difficult, causing many mutterings that Charisma had had his day and was just too old. Mark however knew that Charisma was just itching for tough competition and after a last minute decision to enter the very tough Gatcombe British Open, he was proved right. Silencing the critics, they rode a blistering cross country round to win one of the hardest of all domestic trophies.

So, four years after becoming New Zealand's most successful Olympic equestrian, Mark and the then 16 year old Charisma led from the dressage phase, eventually knocking just one show jump down, to become only the second repeat Olympic three day eventing champions. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, despite having to withdraw his horse, Welton Greylag due to a ligament strain, a team silver medal was to follow. Mark was seen a final time at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and although individual success eluded him, Mark ended his career by adding a team bronze to his Olympic medal tally with the ride Eyespy II.

The only international success to elude Mark, to his great regret, was the individual World Championship medal, in three successive WEGs, he was well positioned only for bad luck to prevail.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, this well loved and equally admired eventing legend hung up his eventing boots for good, to return to his native New Zealand. An amazing career spanning 20 years had come to an end, but it would be difficult to imagine the Mark Todd legend will ever be matched.

Mark Todd Facts

Three times winner of Badminton (1980, 1994, 1996)

Five times winner of Burghley (1987, 90, 91, 97 and 99)

Mark Todd is one of only two riders to take Burghley 1st and 2nd in the same year (the other being fellow countryman Blyth Tait)

Two Olympic individual Medals (Charisma 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul)

Three Olympic team medals (1984 LA, 1992 Barcelona and 2000 Sydney)

Only the second repeat Olympic three day eventing champions (Charisma).

Mark was also an accomplished show jumper, competing in the Olympic show jumping in 1988 and 1992.

Charisma with Mark famously opened the 1990 Commonwealth games in Auckland, the only horse ever to do so.

Mark Todd announced the end of his retirement in January 2008, in a bid to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

On the come back trail
Double Olympic Champion Mark Todd

Writer: David White, Photos: Kit Houghton