Blyth Tait and Ready Teddy Equestrian legend Blyth Tait is mourning the death of the thoroughbred who carried him to Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. Ready Teddy, the 'plucky little chestnut' who helped Tait win medals at both Olympic and World Games level, died yesterday of complications from colic. Tait was in the UK when the 23-year-old horse died. "He was certainly a very special horse," the rider says. "He was a pretty important part of my career and a great favourite. He had plenty of character, was capable and very successful." Ready Teddy is believed to be the only horse to have ever won individual gold at both the Olympic Games (in 1996) and World Equestrian Games (1998). He also won at Burghley in 2000. His Olympic win was made even more special because the horse was just eight years old at the time, which is very young to be winning at that level. "He was always so keen and enthusiastic and meant an awful lot to me. He probably had more stamps in his passport than most people," says Tait. "He had seven good years of retirement and was never ill or lame." Ready Teddy has been buried at Tait's Karaka property. Tait, one of very few openly-gay New Zealand sportsmen, announced in March he is hoping to make a comeback and ride at next year's London Olympics.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 24th April 2011 - 2:50pm