A final flourish

AT this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, we saw numerous veteran horses compete and excel, showing that there are many equines capable of competing at the top levels despite being well into double figures. Some of this year’s Olympic riders explain how they got their veteran horses to Tokyo and what it takes to keep them competing at the highest levels.

Vandiver, 17

Eventing

TOKYO PERFORMANCE: jumped clear cross-country to finish 16th

RIDER DOUG PAYNE (US) SAYS: “Because of his vast experience, Quinn – as we call him – doesn’t run a lot of events in preparation for major championships. He always travels with Courtney Carson, our main groom, for whom Quinn is her child. She knows just about everything he does and how he generally reacts so if something is amiss, she’s very quick to recognise it. We also give him a few days after a long journey to recover.

“Quinn performed to expectations at Tokyo. We