Team GBR

In a career spanning almost 20 years Mary King has become one of British Eventing’s icons and a regular member of the British team. The risks of riding were brought home to her in 2001 when she broke her neck in a fall, from which she fortunately fully recovered. For many young mothers that would have been a signal to hang up their boots but Mary fought her way back to fitness and back into the British squad for the World Championships in 2002.

After finishing fourth at Badminton in 2003 with King Solomon III, Mary was named as a reserve for the European Championships and came into the squad as an individual following the injury at Burghley to Kristina Cook. A typically gutsy performance across country resulted in fifth place and earned her a place as a reserve in the squad for Athens last year. When Sarah Cutteridge had to withdraw on the eve of the competition through a minor horse injury, Mary got the call she’d been waiting for and even better, the Olympic medal she’d dreamed of for years.

By her own admission Mary, now 47, finds it extraordinary that she became interested in horses as her parents were anything but keen. Her father, a retired naval officer, became a verger and at the age of six Mary began to ride the vicar’s pony. Inspired by a visit to Badminton Horse Trials, Mary worked tirelessly on a butcher’s delivery round and as a gardener, cook and chalet girl – anything to fund her eventing career. She became head girl to Sheila Wilcox, a former European Champion and Badminton winner, and in 1985 she made her Badminton debut, finishing in seventh position. In 1992 she added her name to the famous trophy with her great horse King William, the only horse to accumulate more than 2000 points in competition, and she achieved her second Badminton victory in 2000 with Star Appeal.

Her glittering career has brought four team gold medals at World and European Championships and the title of British Champion a record four times. She has also represented Britain at the last four Olympic Games. Mary is married with two children and lives near Sidmouth in Devon.

Mary has been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2010 World Equestrian Games on Janette Chin, Edwin and Sue Davis’ Imperial Cavalier following a successful season together.

Recent Achievements:

2010
7th Luhmuhlen CCI4* (Apache Sauce)
4th Badminton CCI4* (Imperial Cavalier)
2nd Tattersalls CIC3*W (Apache Sauce)
9th Chatsworth CIC3*W (Fernhill Urco)
3rd Belton CIC3* (Fernhill Urco)
7th Burnham  Market CIC3* (Imperial Cavalier)

2009
13th Boekelo CCI3* (Fernill Urco)
7th Blenheim Palace CIC3* 8/9 YO (Fernhill Urco)
12th & 18th Burghley CCI4* (Apache Sauce & King’s Temptress)
2nd Hartpury CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
7th Festival of British Eventing CICW*** (Kings Temptress)
5th Barbury Castle CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
4th Aachen CICO*** (Imperial Cavalier)
4th Luhmuhlen CCI**** (Kings Temptress)
3rd Tattersalls CICW*** (Imperial Cavalier)

2008
8th Pau CCI**** (Call Again Cavalier)
3rd & 4th Burghley CCI**** (Imperial Cavalier & Apache Sauce)
Team Bronze & 11th individually Olympic Games, Hong Kong (Call Again Cavalier)
8th Barbury CIC*** (Call Again Cavalier)
15th Barbury CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
2nd Bramham CCI*** (Kings Fancy)
16th Bramham CCI*** (Kings Temptress)
8th Saumur CCI*** (Kings Gem)
5th Chatsworth CIC*** (Kings Temptress)
11th Badminton CCI**** (Apache Sauce)
2nd Belton Park CIC*** (Imperial Cavalier)
3rd Burnham Market CIC***W (Call Again Cavalier)
13th Burnham Market CIC***W (Imperial Cavalier)
3rd Burnham Market CIC*** (Apache Sauce)

2007
2nd Pau CCI**** (Imperial Cavalier)
5th Le Lion CCI** (Kings Temptress)
12th Boekelo CCI*** (Kings Fancy)
Team Gold & Ind Silver European Championships, Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy (Call Again Cavalier)
16th Blenheim CCI*** (Kings Gem)
17th Burghley CCI**** (Apache Sauce)
1st British Open Championship, Gatcombe (Call Again Cavalier)
3rd Barbury Castle CIC*** (Call Again Cavalier)
1st Chatsworth CIC-W*** (Call Again Cavalier)
9th Lexington CCI**** (Apache Sauce)

2006
3rd World Breeding Championships, Le Lion d’Angers (King’s Gem)
9th Boekelo CCI*** (Apache Sauce)
10th Burghley CCI**** (Cashel Bay)
Team Gold World Championships Aachen (Call Again Cavalier)
3rd Hartpury CIC*** (Cashel Bay)
3rd Barbury CIC*** (Cashel Bay)
10th Barbury CIC*** (Apache Sauce)
18th Badminton CCI**** (Cashel Bay)

2005
2nd Kreuth CCI*** (Birthday Night)
4th Burghley CCI**** (Call Again Cavalier)
8th Barbury Castle CIC*** (Call Again Cavalier)
Completed Badminton CCI**** (Call Again Cavalier)

2004
Team Silver Athens Olympic Games (King Solomon III)