Customer Reviews

Learn from the master himself Review by Horse&Rider Website Editor

With two Olympic golds, two bronzes and numerous other honours, Mark Todd has racked up most of eventing’s biggest prizes at one time or another over his long career.

And he’s not done yet! Returning after eight years of retirement, Mark and his 10-year-old grey gelding, Gandalf, were selected for the New Zealand team for the 2008 Olympics. He and fellow veteran equestrian Andrew Nicholson will be the first New Zealanders to compete at six Olympic Games.

Voted Rider of the 20th Century by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Mark has won Badminton Horse Trials on three occasions and the Burghley three-day trials five times.

However, he may be best known for his reputation as a horseman with the ability to coax the very best performance out of horses at top events – sometimes after only riding the horse a handful of times

One of the best examples of this is when Mark was offered the ride on The Irishman shortly before Badminton in 1989. He rode the horse for the first time only a few days before the event.

“By the time I came to ride The Irishman, I had ridden a lot of different horses,”
Mark explained. “They are all different and they all go slightly differently, but I think one of the strengths of my riding is that I can adapt myself to a certain level, or allow the horse to go the way that he likes to go. Although I probably ride the horses in a similar way, I don’t demand that they all go exactly the same way.”

And he’s also famous for a breath-taking trip around the legendary Badminton cross-country course – including safe passage through the notorious Badminton Lake – with only one stirrup.

This level of success, with many different equine partners across so many years, is the result of careful, meticulous training methods.

With the Mark Todd DVD Collection, you have an unlimited opportunity to learn from one of the most talented riders eventing has ever seen. Watch Mark as he works his horses at home, showing the techniques he uses to bring his mounts through Novice and Intermediate, right up to Advanced levels. Listen as he comments on his career, and shares anecdotes

In the first disc of the three-DVD set, Mark shows how he lays the critical flatwork foundations for success, and how he prepares horses for dressage.

Watch as he works with an experienced horse, a young horse and a horse who is difficult in the mouth in a calm, empathetic way. See how he gives each individual horse the opportunity to excel, whatever their level of training.

And when a horse offers something to Mark in response to an aid or a request, he rewards them with a kind word and a pat. It is a moving experience to watch the horses grow in confidence and ability with Mark’s consistent schooling over the course of the session.

On to the jumping!
Building on the methods he uses during flatwork and dressage, Mark prepares for show jumping by demonstrating the basic jumping position, and full and short releases. Starting with poles, he warms the horse up in both his body and his mind, encouraging him to stay calm, relaxed over the ground poles and think about where he’s placing his feet. Progressing to gridwork, he explains the importance of straightness when approaching fences, and the impact of rhythm on a rider’s ability to see a stride and judge related distances.

Using simple, everyday equipment that many riders will find at their own facilities, Mark then shortens his stirrups and demonstrates the training exercises he uses to prepare for the challenges riders will inevitably encounter cross-country, including corner fences, bounces, angles and coffin jumps.

Combined with simple graphics, disc two of the Mark Todd Collection forms a comprehensive, instructional guide to jumping with the man who has jumped them all!

Disc three is pure indulgence – 20 years of cross-country rounds from Mark’s illustrious career. With an understanding of Mark’s training methods and every day schooling, enjoy the experience of seeing the training come together in a high speed action. Featuring infamous horses like Bertie Blunt, Southern Comfort, Horton Point, The Irishman and Charisma, watch the historic rounds and listen as Mark explains what was really going on with the horses on course and during the highs and lows of his career.

Watch the thrilling performances that defeated the odds, the outstanding ability and balance, and the horses that shone with pride at the slightest pat from their rider. (Posted on 02/10/2009)