‘Who is this old fool who has come to ride?’: 70-year-old Mark Todd goes under the radar in ‘retirement’

When H&H paid a visit to Ben Pauling’s National Hunt yard near Cheltenham, one work rider caught the eye. If anyone wondered what Sir Mark Todd is doing now, the secret’s out. There is no disguising the tall frame poised in perfect balance in the saddle, and the quiet hands that made him a two-time Olympic champion, five-time Burghley and four-time Badminton winner.

Since retiring from eventing in 2019 and subsequently also retiring from training racehorses, Mark – who has just turned 70 – is now riding out for a couple of trainers six days a week. We caught up with him after morning exercise.

What is Mark Todd doing now?

In his own words:

It all began when I rang Ben Pauling and asked “Do you need an extra rider?”

I stopped training racehorses at the end of 2024 and we moved to the Cotswolds in October last year. I didn’t have any horses left at home and I was missing riding and I love racing. I knew of Ben, who trains close by in Naunton Downs, but I’d never met him. Luckily he replied “Yes, come along!”

I ride two lots a day, but occasionally they twist my arm to do three. Two is enjoyable, three is a bit much and four is a job, and I don’t want a job!

We actually live next door to another racehorse trainer, Richard Hobson, whose gallops we look out over, so I ride out for Ben on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and I go to Richard’s yard on Wednesday and Thursday.

Most of the team at Ben’s are so young, I don’t think they knew who I was when I arrived. They probably thought, “Who is this old fool who has come to ride?” I’m sure I’m the heaviest rider there, but I really enjoy it and it’s good fun with all the gang. I’m just very grateful that Ben lets me ride there and allows me to do a bit of work on the horses.

I think I probably get put on the nice, quiet ones but after riding Flat horses for so long, the jumpers are definitely a bit more steady.

The horse I ride most regularly is a four-year-old called Old Clayesmorian, who won his first start in a bumper at Warwick. He’ll now be turned out till next season. I expect he’ll make up into a really nice staying chaser.

I haven’t been let loose over the jumps yet, but I’m not sure I want to! Ben doesn’t have an arena so I haven’t had any input into the jumping side of things. Every trainer does things a bit differently but Ben has a fabulous set-up and the horses are all very well looked after.

I get into the yard just after 7am and first lot is out by 7.30am. I said I don’t want to muck out though – I’ve done enough of that over the years!

We just recently sold the last horse we had at home – a little mare we used to race and she won four times for us. We tossed up the idea of breeding from her but we’ve been down that road in the past and where we live now isn’t really suited for having mares and foals.

My wife Carolyn and I have a share in another horse we raced, called Rockit Tommy, who is now with young New Zealand event rider Tayla Mason. He’s a lovely big horse – a great mover and super jumper – so it will be exciting to follow him. I help Tayla a bit and I do quite a lot of other teaching here and there so, all in all, I’m keeping busy.

I don’t make a very good spectator, so I don’t tend to go racing anymore, although I make an exception for the Cheltenham Festival. I only like going racing if I have a runner, or I have a job to do.

Touching wood, the body is holding up well with my turning 70 on 1 March. We might celebrate with a party later in the year, but Carolyn and I went skiing in Verbier instead.

But that’s why I want to keep riding – I don’t know if it keeps you young, but it keeps your body going anyway. I see John Whitaker still competing at the age of 70, but I have no desire to be back on that treadmill again.

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