Andrew Nicholson retires from Top Level

Andrew Nicholson has confirmed that he is retiring from top level eventing. Andrew has stated that he will focus on producing horses to two and three star lelve as well as coaching riders; and will continue his role as coach to the Swiss eventing team.

Speaking to the media at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials Andrew Nicholson said “I’m not planning to retire completely and will still have novice horses with the idea of getting them to two- and three-star and selling them, But I have a lot of respect for the courses at the likes of Badminton and Burghley, and you’ve got to be fully up to speed, and I don’t feel quite like I used to, to be honest. I’ve been very lucky. I have ridden some amazing horses and competed with them all over the world. I will still be at Badminton and Burghley, I just might not be leaving the start box.”

Andrew was born in Waikato, New Zealand and moved England in the 1980s to pursue his eventing career. Andrew has been hugely successful and represent New Zealand at six Olympics (he was selected for seven).He won team gold at the world championships in 1990, team eventing silver at the Barcelona Olympics, and bronze in Atlanta (1996) and London (2012). He also won an individual bronze medal at the 2012 World Equestrian Games, and was World Number 1 eventing champion.

Andrew was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to equestrian.

A legend in the eventing world – Andrew has won the prestigious Burghley Horse trials 5 times riding Buckley Province in 1995, Mr Smiffy in 2000 and Avebury in 2012, 2013 and 2014 consecutively. He has also won Pau 5* in 2012 with his Olympic mount Nereo, Kentucky 5* in 2013 riding Quimbo & Lumuhlen 5* in 2013 riding Mr Cruise Control. He also won Badminton Horse Trials with Nereo in 2017, after 36 completions.

From all the team at The Horse Exchange – thank you Andrew for the incredible memories over the past years.