Mary King (equestrian)

Early life

Mary King was born in Newark-on-Trent on 8 June 1961. Her father, Lieutenant-Commander M D H Thomson was a naval officer who suffered for the rest of his life from the consequences of a motorcycle accident that happened before Mary was born. Latterly he took the position of verger in Salcombe Regis parish church. He died in 2000. Her mother Patricia Gillian (Jill) continues the role of verger at the church. Mary also has an elder brother Simon Francis Bennett Thomson.

She attended Manor House Independent School (Honiton), Kings Grammar School (Ottery St Mary) and Evendine Court School of Domestic Economy (Cordon Bleu) (Malvern).

She did not grow up in a horsey family, but became fascinated by the vicar's pony, and eventually, aged 6, she persuaded her mother to lead her around the lanes on it. After that, she rode everything she could, even a donkey, and realised that she wanted to become a professional rider. It was not until she went to watch the Badminton Horse Trials, aged 11, with Axe Vale Pony Club, that she realised she wanted to become a professional three-day-event rider.

After school, she went to work for Sheila Willcox, a former European Champion, where she learned everything, from breaking in and producing young horses, to top class stable management.

A longing to travel took her to Zermatt where she worked as a chalet girl and which she described as being "great fun and a doddle after working in the yard". Subsequently she joined the tall ship, Sir Winston Churchill, first as a trainee, then as a watch leader, before returning to set up her own stables.

Mary King converted a couple of cow sheds in a disused farmyard near her home and looked after other people's horses, gave riding lessons and bought and sold horses. To supplement her income, she cleaned houses, cooked, kept gardens tidy for people and delivered meat for the local butcher.

Funding proved even more difficult in 1988 when she started competing professionally, requiring her to sell horses which had proven successful. This changed, when after being offered good money for Divers Rock, a horse on which she had achieved 7th place at Badminton, she turned the offer down commenting "I'd rather be famous than rich." It proved to be the right decision because she secured her first sponsorship deal on the back of her success.

Equestrian career

Mary King went to her first Badminton in 1985, finishing in seventh place with Diver`s Rock, and finally won the event in 1992 with her horse, King William. She later won the event again in 2000 with Star Appeal. Mary also won Burghley Horse Trials with Star Appeal in 1996 .In 2011 Mary became the first rider to win Kentucky 4* with a homebred horse, Kings Temptress .

In 2001, whilst exercising horses at her home, she had a fall which broke her neck. However, less than a year later she was back at the top of the sport recording top ten placings at major international events including a 3rd placing at Burghley Four Star on her great campaigner King Solomon III.

She has won six team gold medals at World Equestrian Games and European Championships. She has been British Champion four times, more than anyone to date. King has also represented Britain in six Olympic Games: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. She has won;

King was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.

She married Alan King (known as David King) in 1995 and they and their two children, Emily and Freddie, live in Salcombe Regis, Devon. Her daughter Emily King also competes in eventing.

Current

Former

Kings Choice - Sold to young rider in Ireland 2015

Kings Temptress (by Primitive Rising out of Kings Mistress) mare Born 2000 - retired from competition 2015 due to arthritic lameness. Will now go on to breed foals for Mary.

King Dan - Sold 2015

MHS King Joules -Too strong for Mary. Now competing with eventer Oliver Townend

Cavalier Venture - Too big for Mary. Now competing with eventer Francis Whittington

Imperial Cavalier - Won Olympic Team Silver in London 2012,Retired from top level eventing, Now competing with Yasmin Ingrahm

Fernhill Urco - Retired from top level eventing, Now competing with Yasmin Ingrahm

Apache Sauce - Retired from top level eventing, Died from tendon injury whilst competing at lower levels with Emily King in 2012

Chilli Morning - Too strong for Mary. Taken on by William Fox-Pitt in early 2012

Call again Cavalier- Won Chatsworth CIC3* and British Open CIC3* 2007,Olympic Team Bronze at Beijing 2008,Died at Express Eventing in November 2008 at the Millennium Stadium after breaking his leg

Cashel Bay- New rider as too strong for Mary

King Solomon- Won Mary`s first Olympic medal (Team Silver) in 2004 won Bleinham CCI3* in 1996, Saumur CCI3* in 1997

Ryan V- Collapsed and died of a heart attack whilst competing at Weston Park in 2001

Star Appeal- Won CCI4* Burghley Horse Trials in 1996 and Badminton Horse Trials in 2000

King William- Won CCI4* Badminton Horse Trials in 1992 and took Mary to her first two Olympics

King Kong- Retired in 1995 due to tendon injury

King Cuthbert- Won Bramham CCI3* 1986 Retired 1990

King Boris- Retired 1995

Diver`s Rock- Took Mary round her first Badminton in 1985

King Cuthbert- Given to Annie collings in retirement, 2nd at Burghley

King Arthur

Silverstone

King's Mistress- retired with tendon injury, kept as a broodmare

King Humphrey - Mary's first Eventer

Ferrari- sold to the Pinders, later owners of Star Appeal

Bred

2014

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

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1999

1997

1996

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1992

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1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

In media

Midas Interactive brought out the computer game Mary King's Riding Star which was available on a variety of platforms.