BOLD riding across natural terrain, allowing horses to think for themselves and not being afraid of making mistakes are among the characteristics that have moulded the extraordinary career of legendary New Zealand event rider Andrew Nicholson.

The 53-year-old rider, who last month made history this year by winning Burghley’s four-star event with Mark and Rosemary Barlow’s grey gelding Avebury for the third year in a row, has ridden in almost every major eventing competition since 1984.