Riding for gold
NG Kids: I understand Bejing will be your fifth Olympics. How does it feel to reach that landmark. Not many Olympians get to achieve that!
Mary King: I'm hugely honoured to be part if the British team travelling to Beijing and look forward to the event. To be given the opportunity to compete for the fifth time is fantastic and as ever I’m relishing the challenge.
NGK: How will the travelling to China affect your horses?
MK: The horses I compete with on a regular basis are well conditioned to travelling overseas for events. There are also rigorous veterinary procedures the horses have to pass before being allowed to travel to China, which I’m happy to say we have already passed. The next step is for the horses to be quarantined in Stow on the Wold before finally been flown to Hong Kong. The horses will also be regularly checked by a vet throughout the competition to ensure the horse remains healthy and happy.
NGK: You must be very confident at the moment you had one of your most successful seasons last year, didn't you?
MK: It's always good to go into a competition on the back of successful results and I'm feeling very positive ahead of Beijing. It was a great season last year and the horses performed exceptionally well and I hope I can carry my current form onto the Olympics.
NGK: Who are your main rivals in the equestrian events at the Olympics?
MK: The field is very strong with a number riders and teams in the medal chase. As always France, Germany, Australia and the US all have great teams, but the British team will be very competitive and I believe we have a great chance of bringing home the gold if luck is on our side.
NGK: What can you tell us about the cross-country course in Beijing?
MK: I haven't seen the course yet but I've heard from reports that it's a fantastic course and possibly one of best seen in recent Olympics. I'll reserve judgement until I get there, but it all sounds very positive. One concern was the heavy rain fall at that time of year in Hong Kong, but again, I've been advised a specially-designed drainage system has been installed to remove water from the course, which is great news from a safety point of view.
MK: We are a very experienced squad and have all ridden together many many times before, which I think from a team point of view will be one of our greatest strengths. All the horses are in great condition and we're extremely well prepared for the Games. I can't identify any particular weakness in the team, this normally shows when the pressure is on, but that's when the experience and training takes over.
NGK: Are you confident of success in Beijing?
MK: The whole team is very confident going into the Olympics and we are all hugely excited to be part of such an important event. We do take day by day and focus on the event in hand, but we're certainly very hopeful of bringing back medals.
NGK: What's the best thing about working with horses?
MK: I've loved horses from a very early age and my enthusiasm for horses will never be lost. It's wonderful to have the opportunity to ride every day and work with such great animals.
NGK: How is Mary King's Riding School different to the other horse games?
MK: Mary King’s Riding School sets itself apart from other games by focusing on the three major equestrian disciplines – Dressage, Cross-country and Show Jumping. I will also be on hand in the game to show players how to care for, train and prepare their horses before competing at the highest level in three-day eventing. The Nintendo DS touch screen controls are brilliant and allow players to be in total control when jumping fences, navigating cross-country courses and elegantly commanding the horse through dressage routines.
NGK: What input did you have in the game?
MK: I'm working directly with the publishers and passing on my knowledge and experience of horses. This has varied from providing horse caring advice to top riding safety tips. I also personally feature in Mary King’s Riding School giving players advice and training throughout the game.
Mary King's Riding School is out on DS on 18 July
Pic: Getty Images UK