Search for horse awaits Todd

Press, 28 November 1988, Page 20

Search for horse awaits Todd

PA Wellington The Olympic equestrian gold medallist, Mark Todd, will begin his search for a replacement for his champion horse, Charisma, in earnest in England next year. The search for a new Charisma, which looks like replacing the quest for another Richard Hadlee as New Zealand’s main sporting priority, centres on six horses — Bahlua, Peppermint Park, Pedro the Cruel, Welton Grey Lag, Jued Lad and Tom Thumb. "They are all good horses,” Todd said yesterday. “Most of them have won smaller international competitions, but it’s not until you get into the really big stuff that you find out how good they

are.” Of the six, Todd nominates Welton Grey Lag as the one with the most potential. He was injured for most of last season but returned with good results at the end of the year. He will probably take Welton Grey Lag and Bahlua to Sweden next year to have a run over the course for the world championship in 1990, the only big title Todd has not won. Welton Grey Lag is nine years old, which means he should be around the peak age for an eventing horse at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Charisma, “a very special horse,” will tour the country on returning to New Zealand today.

The aims are to let as many people as possible see the horse that won two Olympic and numerous other titles, and also to raise money for the world championship and 1992 Olympics. Todd, the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, is expecting a quieter time in 1989. He will return to England in January, his chief target the Badminton championships in late April. But he says the inexperience of his horses means his chances of success are not high. His long-term plans are to continue at least until 1992. “Motivation is the biggest thing — there’s no real age limit, you can compete in your 40s (Todd is 33). You have to

have the motivation to win and the horses and sponsors.” Todd is delighted with the booming popularity of equestrianism, and predicts a bright future for the sport in this country. “After Los Angeles (where he won his first Olympic title), when nobody knew what a threeday event was, it has got a lot more media attention, which can only be good. “There are a lot more riders now, and hopefully we’ll be able tb carry on and do even better.”. If you were wondering what a double Olympic champion does to relax, Todd enjoys the beach, water and snow ski-ing, tennis, and “lazing around.”