New Zealand has enjoyed great success in equestrian at the Olympics and Sir Mark Todd is at the heart of those achievements.
It seems appropriate that the man who pioneered the way for three-day eventing in New Zealand will become
New Zealand's most capped Olympian when he competes in Rio.
2016 Rio Olympic Games New Zealand Equestrian Team, Julie Brougham, Jonathan Paget, Sir Mark Todd, Clarke Johnstone, Jonelle Price. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Two time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mark Todd will compete in his eighth Olympics as part of a five-strong New Zealand equestrian team selected for Rio.
He is joined by his bronze medal-winning Olympic team-mates from London four years ago, Jonelle Price and Jock Paget. The fourth member of the eventing team is Clarke Johnstone.
First time Olympian Julie Brougham will compete in the dressage competition.
It was thought that 60-year-old Todd would become the oldest New Zealand athlete to compete at a Games but 62-year-old Brougham pipped Todd in the age stakes.
Todd competed at his first Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984 and won gold in the individual three day event riding Charisma, with the duo repeating the effort in Seoul four years later.
Since then, the only Olympics he has missed is Athens in 2004.
Todd's bronze medal in London four years ago equalled the Olympic record for the longest gap between first and last Olympic medals, of 28 years.
The equestrian great is focused on delivering another strong Olympic challenge for New Zealand.
Johnstone was forced to bow out of contention leading in to the London Games after his horse was injured and for the last four years his number one focus has been going to Rio to try to win a medal for New Zealand.
A change to the eventing competition means that this year's team will only feature four riders rather than five, with just one score being discounted each round.
Tactically that means every rider will have to fulfil a high standard each time they perform because only one score will be discounted, rather than two as in the past.
The final course for the Olympics will not revealed until the day before the event.
The New Zealand equestrian team is expected to be competitive again at the Olympics. Todd is ranked sixth in the world, Price 22nd, Johnstone 32nd, and Paget 44th.
Backing up the team is Tim Price, who has been selected as the travelling reserve.
Germany, Great Britain and France are shaping as the other major contenders.
German Michael Jung is the heavy favourite in the individual event.
Julie Brougham from Palmerston North will compete in the dressage for New Zealand and is just the third Kiwi to do so.
Ahead of her have been Kallista Field at Sydney (2000) and Louisa Hill at Athens (2004) and London (2012).
NZ three-day eventing team medals:
1988 - bronze - Tinks Pottinger, Mark Todd, Andrew Bennie, Margs Carline
1992 - silver - Andrew Nicholson, Blyth Tait, Vicky Latta
1996 - bronze - Vaughn Jefferis, Andrew Nicholson, Blyth Tait, Vicky Latta
2012 - bronze - Jonelle Richards, Caroline Powell, Mark Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Jock Paget
Other NZ equestrian medals:
1984 - gold - individual eventing - Mark Todd
1988 - gold - individual eventing - Mark Todd
1992 - bronze - individual eventing - Blyth Tait
1996 - gold - individual eventing - Blyth Tait
1996 - silver - individual eventing - Sally Clarke
2000 - bronze - individual eventing - Mark Todd
