Equestrian: Mark Todd going for gold

Todd will once again be a key member of the NZ team for the World Equestrian Games. Photo / Getty Images

When Mark Todd says everyone is getting a "little bit jumpy", one of the world's most decorated eventers isn't trying to be funny.

The 58-year-old will once again be a key member of the New Zealand team for the World Equestrian Games and is serious about mounting a successful challenge. The Kiwis have had a strong build-up to the world championships of eventing, which start in Normandy, France, next weekend, and will be among the favourites for team gold.

Todd is aware the team look good on paper but said, "we've still got to produce the goods".

"We will go in as one of the favourites and deservedly so," he said from his base in the UK. "We've got a team of good horses and riders, everybody's in a good frame of mind and the horses are going well, which makes us confident.

"Obviously everybody wants to do well, so before a big competition everybody gets a little bit jumpy."

This will be Todd's fifth World Equestrian Games, an event he won gold at in the 1990 and 1998 team events, but acknowledges it's been a while since New Zealand have won team gold. They claimed bronze at the last instalment in 2010.

They have been boosted by news Jock Paget has been cleared of any wrongdoing around last year's positive drugs test of his horse, Clifton Promise, and will compete, joining Todd, world No2 Andrew Nicholson and Tim Price. Jonelle Price and Lucy Jackson will also compete as individuals.

Todd has already declared his intentions to ride at a seventh Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 but insists the World Equestrian Games "is not a dummy run for anything".

"This is the world championships. We're not there for practice. We're trying to be world champions. We're always aiming for the gold. We don't go there aiming to finish fourth. My long-term goal is to get to the Olympics in Rio and, providing I've got the horse power and I'm still enjoying it, I hope to be there."

Todd dismissed that there were any distractions concerning Paget's recent ban from elite competition.

"It's business as usual," Todd insists. "We're a very competitive unit. We're all there for the same reason and now we all have a chance to get there and be the best team that we can.

"If they [Paget and Clifton Promise] are on anything like the form of last year, then he'll be a big asset to the team. He's done a lot of work and preparation and the horse is very experienced, having done something like seven or eight four-star events, so he doesn't lack mileage."

Todd also has great faith in his own mount, Leonidas, and says the bay gelding will be a contender for Rio.

"He'll be 12 then so will be right in his prime, but I've got a couple of other horses that are as good or nearly as good. It will come down to who's on form at the right time.

"He's a youngish horse and has done quite a few events abroad now but is fairly new to top-level competition and this will be his first major one.

"A couple more gallops here and he'll be ready."