‘I can be competitive; I just need a little luck.’ I didn’t go home feeling defeated, I went home feeling more determined than ever.
Toddy is just as enthusiastic about competing in his eighth Games as he was his first. “It’s a different sort of excitement, but it’s still nerve-wracking. The trick is to keep a lid on it until you get there.”
A legend such as Sir Mark Todd needs no introduction, but preparing for an Olympic Games is never straightforward – even for an eventing icon who is his country’s most celebrated Olympian.
When Horse Sport caught up with the ageless sexagenarian who will spearhead New Zealand’s eventing team at the Rio Olympics, he was at his home, Badgerstown, in Wiltshire, England’s eventing heartland. He was fretting (as much as a laid-back personality is capable) about receiving his renewed visa in time for a trip to Germany and a final run for Campino, one of his nominated mounts. It was also two days since “things hadn’t gone so well” at Barbury Castle CIC with his other Olympic entry, Leonidis, who hadn’t seen a start box since Badminton and was so fresh and fit he managed to chalk up more show jumping penalties than the 20 he accrued across country.
Yet Sir Mark (“call me Mark”) Todd OBE, MBE, Event Rider of the Century and “rather nice person” was taking it all in the long-legged stride he is so famous for. When you already have five Olympic medals from seven appearances and have been individual Olympic champion twice, there’s not a lot to lose but face. Hunger and desire still run deep, even after 38 years in the game, and Toddy is just as enthusiastic about competing in his eighth Games as he was his first. “It’s a different sort of excitement, but it’s still nerve-wracking. The trick is to keep a lid on it until you get there.”
How did you get started with horses?
My father ran an agriculture machinery business and wasn’t into horses, but my granddad was quite keen. I used to spend weekends at my grandparents’ farm and they kept horses. My granddad borrowed an old pony from a friend for me to ride when I was eight or nine. Eventually he bought me my first ponies, all of which were totally unsuitable. My earliest memory is writing every Christmas to Santa Claus asking for a pony and most times being disappointed.
Can you identify a turning point in your career?
It was probably the World Championships in 1978, even though they ended badly for me because I was eliminated when my horse went lame on cross-country. As well as being my first championship, it was only the second or third three-day event I’d ever done and it was certainly the toughest. Even though it ended badly, it had started well and I thought afterwards if I’d gone clear and inside the time across country (which my horse normally would have) and if we’d show jumped clear (which he normally would have) I could have won a medal. I thought ‘I can be competitive; I just need a little luck.’ I didn’t go home feeling defeated, I went home feeling more determined than ever.
Were sacrifices made along the way?
Undeniably, yes, although it’s hard to say what is a sacrifice. Anyone who reaches the top of anything, in business or sport, has to be selfish. I had to live in England to do what I wanted to do, which meant leaving New Zealand and friends and family and missing family occasions, birthdays, weddings, and a lot of other stuff.
Take us through a typical day.
My days vary quite a bit. Recently, I’ve cut down on the number of horses I ride [from the 15 he has] to concentrate on my two Olympic horses. I get up at 6:30 and exercise and generally I start riding between 8-8:30 a.m. I aim to finish by 1 p.m., but it all depends … sometimes I might have students in for a lesson or I’ll go teach my Brazilians [Mark is technical advisor to the Brazilian eventing team] who are based nearby and then ride in the afternoon. After lunch I will do office work or things around the farm; there’s always things to do, it’s a never-ending project. After ‘work’ I might go for a bike ride and in the evening I might share the cooking duty with my wife, Carolyn.
Horsepower aside, is there another ingredient that gives you an edge?
I think I am very fortunate that I have not had any serious injuries and that my body has held up very well. I am very competitive, but I think there are a lot of factors in my longevity and success over the years: the right temperament, the right physique, a good eye for a horse, keeping an open mind to ideas and training, and desire. I love doing what I do.
If life hadn’t taken you where it has, would you have had another profession?
Whatever it would have been, it would have been something competitive. I was quite good at athletics at school and there may have been a future in that, but my heart wasn’t in it. I would have loved to have been a jockey, but at 16 I started to shoot up – in old school photos I was the smallest boy in the class – so that put an end to that dream. When I retired in 2000, I trained racehorses and I loved doing that, too. I’ll probably not go back into training, but I hope to have some involvement in racing in the future. [Ed. note: Todd retired to breed and train racehorses in his native New Zealand in 2000 after the Sydney Olympics, but came back to the sport in 2008.]
Where is your favorite place in the world?
One of my most favorite places would be Kaiteriteri on the north end of South Island near the Abel Tasman national park. We used to go there on holiday. The beach is stunning and you can only reach it by boat or on foot.
Where would you most like to go that you haven’t been?
That’s a hard question; there are so many places I haven’t been. I’d like to go to Croatia and I suppose I would like to spend more time in Asia and India. We love France and there is so much to see that we haven’t seen. I would like to think we will have a holiday home in the south of France one day.
Do you have a fitness program?
I’ve been doing yoga for about ten years now. Carolyn started and suggested I try it. After driving the lorry around for hours I could hardly walk. Yoga made a huge difference. Every morning when I get up I’ll do yoga and stretching and get on the rowing machine.
How would you or your friends and family describe you?
I think I’m fairly normal. People say I’m laid back and occasionally amusing and occasionally grumpy. I enjoy a good time, but also I can be serious. My glass is half full, always. [Carolyn adds: “He’s even-tempered and balanced; generally he’s rather a nice person.”]
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Biscuits – I have an awful sweet tooth. I’ve been known to go to the supermarket and eat a whole packet of flapjacks [granola bars] before I reach the checkout.
If you were having a dinner party and you could choose 4 guests, living or dead, who would you invite?
I would have to have my wife, as it wouldn’t be right without her…[in the background Carolyn is saying “happy wife, happy life”]. Billy Connelly [the comedian]; he’d be a hoot. I’d also like to have Roger Federer and Tina Turner – I’m a big fan of both.
Money or medals?
We don’t do this sport of eventing for the money, that’s for sure, and medals don’t pay the bills. I guess my answer depends on if I’m ruled by my head or my heart. My business head says money, but my heart says medals. Carolyn says I’ve got the medals, so now I need the money!
My glass is half full, always. [Carolyn adds: “He’s even-tempered and balanced; generally he’s rather a nice person.”]
