I've just finished reading Mark Todd's Autobiography 'Second
Chance'. I haven't read the first one (So
Far, So Good) so didn't know what to expect but several people had said how good
it was. I have always been a big fan of
him and his riding, he always seems to have really fitted in to the British
Eventing scene and always seemed almost like he was a Brit. He did
almost run me over on his bike once at Badminton but it may well have been my
fault!
The book takes us from his early life all the way until just
before the 2012 Olympics. I found it fascinating to read about all the antics
he got up to with his team mates and the British team, there certainly seemed
to be a lot of parties and alcohol involved!
I would have perhaps liked to read more about the day to day things as
well as the events but that may be just me being nosy. We all know from our own experience how much
hard work we put in with our horses, so to get horses to that level must take
an absolutely enormous effort. I felt
Mark glossed over the work he so obviously must have put in (or perhaps he was
being modest).
Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading about the events and the
horses which he has owned over the years and discovering really what a close
knit and friendly group the eventers are.
Reading about the day his stirrup leather broke and he still managed to
get around the Badminton cross-country course in 1995 was amazing. Of course
his thoughts on the awful accidents which resulted in 5 deaths in 1999 were
interesting to read. I felt he talked
about it with sensitivity but realism too.
It has always been a dangerous sport but it was good to read that
Britain was doing so much work for rider safety. The safety features we now see, such as
frangible pins, are as a result of the research.
There are some really great photographs too which I always
enjoy!
It was fascinating learning about what he was doing during
his 'break' and that it turned out to be nothing like the break he had
planned. Training racehorses,
successfully, was a new challenge and he definitely seems to be the sort of
person who has to constantly test himself and set new goals.
I also found it really interesting discovering the changes
he notices when he returned in 2008, but also what was the same. The same faces
with some new ones and all the new safety features!
This is a book worth reading and I would recommend that you
get hold of a copy, make a cup of tea, find a cosy corner and enjoy.
Until next time!
Jo
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