MANDIBA, the Irish-bred WBFSH Eventing Horse of the Year in 2010, died last week. “He was a love of my life, hugely talented with a bombproof temperament, and I always knew he was special. Named after Nelson Mandela - just as Biko was named after Stephen Biko - Mandiba was a full-brother of High Kingdom,” said the pair’s breeder, William Micklem, who bred them in Enniskerry from his noted Chair Lift - Prefairy mare, High Dolly.

He also sourced the five-star Biko for Karen O’Connor. “I always knew Mandiba was special. He was very beautiful and if you look at my book - Complete Horse Riding Manual - he was the model for my young horse section. Breyer toys even used him as a model.”