Evergreen Todd has sights on 2012 glory

He has a stable of 14 horses, having arrived to make his comeback in the UK two years ago with just one, and believes he can be more competitive next year, and even more so the year after that.

What is his secret? He is going to be sharing his wisdom and showing the way he produces horses in a lecture demo at Ledston Equine Centre on Sunday, October 31.

He is a specialist at getting inside horses' minds, and is having to adapt to understanding the modern Warmblood sports horses after years of working with tough, wiry New Zealand Thoroughbreds.

"I think I'm getting there," he says, "but the things I look for in an event horse are the same whatever their breeding – a generous eye, a good head, good confirmation, jumps well and has a good attitude."

Mark's eventing career began in 1980 when he arrived in Britain from New Zealand prepared to ride anything on which he felt he could make his mark. Make his mark he did, notching five wins at Burghley, four at Badminton, and back-to-back Olympic gold medals on his little equine superstar Charisma.

"He was good looking, sound and he had a huge personality. He loved people, showing off and competing, and although his show-jumping left something to be desired, he was part of the family and died with us aged 30."

But after 20 years, Mark had nothing left to prove and decided to retire in 2000. He returned to New Zealand and began a career as a successful racehorse trainer.

"I'd won everything I wanted to win and I got sick of the daily grind." he says.

So why the comeback? "It began as a bit of a joke and a bet that I couldn't get to the Olympics in Beijing.

"So I did, and then I found I was enjoying it more than when I was competing before. I'm not in so much of a rush, and I'm building a good team of horses. Next year I'll be more competitive and even more so the year after that."

He may not be in a rush, but the results are already impressive. This year, he piloted the relatively inexperienced NZB Grass Valley to 18th place at Badminton, was 11th at Burghley with new ride Major Milestone, fifth at Bramham with Chuckelberry and won the young horse intermediate class at Blenheim on NZB Land Vision.

He has just competed for the New Zealand team at the World Equestrian Games, finishing 11th with Grass Valley.

Todd is an all-round horseman, with an instinctive feel for what works in all disciplines – eventing, show-jumping, racing. He feels that the basic training on the flat is every bit as important as leaving the ground. But it is the cross-country phase he lives for.

"I love the adrenalin rush," he says. Todd will be working with some Yorkshire horses and riders and showcasing his own horses at Ledston Equine Centre, Ledston, Castleford, WF10 2BB, Sunday, October 31 at 2pm.

Tickets (20 in advance, 25 on door; 15 HCTG and Pony Club members,16 and under, 20 on door) are available from: Sue Keane, 14 Brackenwell Lane, North Rigton, LS17 0DG 01423 734449. Please send sae, cheques to Harewood CTG.

Wagons roll as Sledmere opens doors to slice of history

THE Museum of the Wagoners' Special Reserve at Sledmere in East Yorkshire is the smallest military museum in the country.

It is dedicated to the men from the Wolds, many from the Sledmere estate, who used their horse-drawn wagons to supply the front line during the First World War. The Special Reserve was the idea of Sir Mark Sykes, the sixth baronet.

Tony Wilson, who is a trustee of the museum, is giving a talk about the Wolds Wagoners at Sledmere House on October 15. He will be joined by Ltn Col Edward Waite Roberts and Major John Butler who will talk about the GS (general service) wagons. Tickets for the evening are 10 including refreshments. Contact Sandra Oakins on 01751 431347; email [email protected].

ROTHWELL rider Jo Chambers completed a six-day ride across Scotland to raise money for the charity World Horse Welfare. She was among a group of 10 people who took part in the challenge, beginning on the east coast, going over the Highlands and finishing along the west coast in Brora.

The riders were in the saddle for around six hours every day, covered around 110 miles and camped overnight en route. They raised over 10,000.

The West Yorkshire branch of the BHS is holding its annual meeting on November 11 at the Woodkirk Valley Country Club, Dewsbury. The evening will include a talk by Prof Derek Knottenbelt on the subject of winter feeding.

CW 9/10/10