Andrew Nicholson

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Badminton Horse Trial 09 05 2014Dressage

Andrew Nicholson was born in 1961 on New Zealand’s North Island. Since basing himself in Britain in the 1980s he has become one of the most successful eventers on both the one-day and three-day event circuit.

Andrew won team gold at the 1990 World Equestrian Games with Spinning Rhombus, and has ridden at six Olympic Games, winning team silver in 1992 with Spinning Rhombus, team bronze in 1996 with Jagermeister and team bronze in 2012 with Nereo (it is often – correctly – quoted that Andrew has been selected for seven Olympics, but he didn’t actually compete at the seventh despite being selected). He finished just outside the individual medals in 2012 in fourth place.

In 2010, Andrew won his first individual medal — bronze at the Kentucky World Equestrian Games on Nereo, with the New Zealand team also taking bronze.

Andrew has not been on a New Zealand team or part of the high performance squad since an ‘altercation’ with the team vet at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Andrew Nicholson holds the record for the most Badminton completions and finally added this title to the others he has won during his prestigious career when he took top honours at the event on 2017. He has five Burghley titles: 1995 on Buckley Province, 2000 on Mr Smiffy and 2012, 2013 and 2014 on Avebury. He has also been victorious at Pau (Nereo in 2012) and Kentucky (Quimbo in 2013).

Andrew is based in Wiltshire with his partner Wiggy (née Channer), who was William Fox-Pitt’s first wife. They have two children. He also has two daughters from his previous marriage to Jayne.

Andrew’s first book — Focused — was launched at Burghley 2014.

Andrew suffered a nasty fall at the 2015 Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe. He required surgery on his neck as a result, but has recovered to compete once again at the highest level.