Go straight to the latest news about Mary King
One of the most popular and successful British event riders, Mary King is renowned for always having a smile on her face. Born in 1961 to unhorsey parents, she learnt to ride on the vicar’s pony and started out in eventing working for former European champion Sheila Willcox.
Mary won Badminton in 1992 on King William and again in 2000 on Star Appeal, who also won Burghley in 1996. She is the only person to have won five British national titles at Gatcombe and joins Mark Todd and William Fox-Pitt in holding the record for winning four British open championships.
A regular British team member, Mary has been to six Olympics, collecting team silver in Athens 2004 and London 2012, as well as team bronze in Hong Kong 2008. She was on the all-girl gold medal-winning team at The Hague World Equestrian Games in 1994, gained team silver at the Aachen Worlds in 2006 and team gold at the Kentucky WEG in 2010. She has four European team gold medals (1991, 1995, 1997, 2007) and two individual medals (1995 bronze and 2007 silver), as well as a team bronze (2011).
Mary fought back from breaking her neck in a riding accident in 2001 and in these later years of her career has enjoyed success with home-bred horses, many of them carrying Mary’s tag of King in their names. In 2011, she celebrated a four-star (now five-star) win on a home-bred mare when she took top spot at Kentucky on Kings Temptress, also finishing second on Fernhill Urco. She was the first person to score a one-two at the American five-star.
Mary won the HSBC FEI Classics in 2011 and was the world’s leading event rider the same year.
Mary announced her retirement from eventing, aged 64, on 31 March 2026. She lives in Devon with husband David. They have two children, Emily (born 1995) and Freddie (born 1999). Emily King is a successful event rider in her own right.
Mary was a Horse & Hound columnist from 2018 to 2021.
Eight guests mounted on hunters joined Mary King as they crossed Dartmoor on a luxury two-day riding holiday — and quizzed the eventer along the way on how she uses the terrain to keep her eventers fit
Tributes have been paid to the former European champion, one of the first female eventers to enjoy major success in the sport
Find out how you could bid for this top of the range saddle
The eventers will cut a ribbon to mark the official reopening of the historic smithy
We ask the experts to tackle some common cross-country problems, from dealing with green horses to keeping your horse focused
The Olympian has been appointed deputy lieutenant of Devon
You know what they say about keeping it in the family? These equestrian offspring have done just that....
Whether you're keen to improve your core strength, lungeing techniques or posture, take a look at these equestrian training books on the market
The 100km ride will take in open moorland, gorse, forests and ancient stone circles
Riding and competing successfully are all about creating a solid partnership with your horse. Mary King bases hers on these 10 tried-and-tested principles
To mark the mare's retirement and celebrate her career, we bring you photos of her major successes as well as pictures of her at home with Mary
The British star shares her memories of her homebred and her plans for the mare’s future with H&H
The massively popular British event rider has revealed why Kings Temptress was withdrawn after the dressage
All the horses on the 2015 wait list have now joined the startlist for Badminton, with Zara Phillips among the high-profile recent withdrawals
H&H visits Emily King at her Devon base to find out what life is like for the 19-year-old eventer
Find out who is heading to Badminton this year — and how many horses are on the wait list
Andrew shared his tips at this week's eventing forum and is now aiming King Joules at a 3* this season
2014 was a year full of highs and sadly, some lows too. Here are the most-read news stories from the past 12 months
If you've spent time with horses in the West Country, you know there's so much to love about the home of The Wurzels
