Introduction
When Todd first came to England, still an unknown, he won Badminton. Even then, people began to talk about him. The British, the masters of eventing, could hardly believe that this unassuming, humble farmer would become a global idol in horseback eventing—and it must have been hard for them to concede defeat to him.
An Unknown Farmer Arrives in England
Moreover, at the time Mark arrived in the UK, it was even harder to rise to the top, given the unparalleled Lucinda Prior Palmer, the queen of Badminton (she won six times with six different horses); Mark Phillips; the equally exceptional Gini Leng; and many other riders who drew significant attention, such as the Scotsman Ian Stark with the great grey Murfy, who made the formidable horse jumps at Badminton seem small and could take two strides where others needed four. We must also not forget the buzz created by Princess Anne, a member of the British team and an Olympian in Moscow.
Yet, despite this, the New Zealand rider gradually became the most admired—not just by fans but by horse owners and fellow riders alike.
Double Olympic Champion with Charisma
Mark Todd won the individual gold medal in Los Angeles and, four years later, did so again with the same horse in Seoul. An unthinkable feat that elevated him not just as a rider but also as a trainer of his horse, Charisma.
But the "Kiwi" never let up over the years and won everything. He claimed Badminton three times and Burghley four times, secured team gold at the World Championships in Stockholm and Rome (where he also took individual silver), and even triumphed in showjumping—winning prestigious events like the Hickstead Grand Prix and competing in Barcelona. He rode showjumping with the same ease and natural flair as in eventing—a "feeling" reserved only for the stars.
The Best Event Rider of the Century
All this has led to him being hailed as the best event rider of the century—a title met with unanimous agreement—and many consider him the world’s greatest rider. Had he competed in dressage, he would surely have excelled there too.
Mark Todd’s Humility
Yet, Mark remains defined by his simplicity. He never lost his image as a happy, relaxed farmer—though this can’t be entirely true, given how his orthodox equestrian skill merges with the traits of a born winner.
You know Mark is in a competition not because he seeks attention, but because where he goes, cameras and TV follow.
Todd and Spanish Riders
Mark Todd has ties to Spanish riders. When Santiago de la Rocha decided to pursue international eventing—something no one in Spain did at the time—his relentless persistence secured Todd as his trainer and advisor. A wise choice: throughout the 1980s and up to Barcelona 92, Santi competed at a high level, achieving the best Badminton and World Championship results ever for a Spanish rider, plus a three-star win at Punchestown.
He also trained horses for Álvarez Cervera and Revuelta. Carlos Campón, who left his teaching post in Somosaguas to work as a groom for Álvarez Cervera in Atlanta, later spent over three years with the New Zealander, eventually managing his stable and helping school young horses.
Sydney, His Last Major Competition. Racehorses
After Sydney—where injury kept him from riding his top horse, Word for Word—he earned individual bronze with Eye Spy, a fitting finale to his career.
Mark Todd is retiring from competition and returning to New Zealand to breed and train racehorses, another passion. He’s already raced and won, particularly in steeplechasing. He claims he’ll only compete with young horses to prepare them, but like bullfighters, the itch may return—and if it does, he’ll surely excel, never disappointing his global fans.
We bid Mark farewell with sadness but gratitude for knowing him—as a person, a rider, and a horseman. Eventing will now forever be defined as before and after Mark Todd. He made history.
