Rider Biographies

Mary King

Country: Great Britain

Age: 50

Mary is one of the country’s most popular riders and has enjoyed a hugely successful season this year. Her eventing career has spanned 25 years and in that time she has been twice winner of Badminton, four-times British Champion and four times Olympian.

Based near Sidmouth, Devon, Mary became inspired to ride after a visit to Badminton. She funded her career with supplementary jobs, then became head girl to Sheila Wilcox – four-times winner of Badminton in the 50s.

Mary made her Badminton debut in 1985 and just seven years later recorded her first win with the great King William, who would go on to become the highest points earning horse in BE history. He was also the horse that gave Mary her first British team call-up in 1991 and the combination came home from Punchestown with a team gold medaland was ninth at the 1992 Olympic Games the following year.

In 1995 Mary rode King William in the European Champions at Pratoni del Vivaro while five months pregnant with her daughter, Emily, who is now a successful rider in her own right. Mary is married to cattle dealer David King, and as well as Emily the couple has a son, Freddie 12.

Mary’s name is synonymous with her string of ‘King’ prefixed horses. She brings one of her homebred mares, her Kentucky 2011 winner Kings Temptressm to Burghley alongside Gillian Jonas’ Apache Sauce, a horse with a unique jumping style who she has brought up the grades from a novice.

Notable achievements

• 2011 – Badminton CCI**** 3rd Imperial Cavalier
• 2011 – Lexington CCI**** 2nd Fernhill Urco
• 2011 – Lexington CCI**** 1st Kings Temptress
• 2011 – Luhmuhlen CCI**** 8th Apache Sauce
• 2011 – Aachen CIC***4th Imperial Cavalier
• 2010 – Badminton CCI**** 4th Imperial Cavalier
• 2010 – Luhmuhlen CCI**** 7th Tattersalls CIC***W 2nd Apache Sauce
• 2009 – Burghley CCI**** 12th Apache Sauce, 18th Kings Temptress
• 2009 – Hartpury CIC*** 2nd Apache Sauce
• 2009 – Luhmuhlen CCI**** 4th Kings Temptress
• 2009 – Aachen CICO*** 4th Imperial Cavalier
• 2009 – Tattersalls CIC***W 3rd Imperial Cavalier
• 2008 – Pau CCI**** 8th Call Again Cavalier
• 2008 – Burghley CCI**** 3rd Imperial Cavalier, 4th Apache Sauce
• 2008 – Olympic Games 11th Call Again Cavalier, team bronze
• 2008 – Bramham CCI*** 2nd Kings Fancy
• 2007 – Pratoni European Championships, team gold, ind silver Call Again Cavalier
• 2007 – Chatsworth CIC***W 1st Call Again Cavalier
• 2007 – Gatcombe British Open 1st Call Again Cavalier
• 2006 – Aachen WEG team gold Call Again Cavalier
• 2004 – Athens Olympics team silver
• 2003 – Badminton CI**** 4th King Solomon III
• 2000 – Badminton CCI**** 1st Star Appeal
• 2000 – Sydney Olympics 7th Star Appeal
• 1997 – Badminton CCI**** 2nd Star Appeal
• 1996 – Gatcombe British Open 1st King William
• 1996 – Blenheim CCI*** 1st King Solomon III
• 1996 – Burghley CCI**** 1st Burghley Star Appeal
• 1995 – Pratoni European Championships team gold, ind bronze King William
• 1994 – The Hague WEG 4th, team gold King William
• 1992 – Barcelona Olympics 9th King William
• 1992 – Badminton CCI**** 1st King William
• 1985 – Badminton CCI**** 7th Divers Rock