Fox-Pitt says the Brits are a force to be reckoned with

The 49-year-old, a three-time Olympic medallist, helped the Great Britain team to a glorious gold in Lexington, Kentucky, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and silver in Normandy, France, four years later.

A return to US soil beckons as all eyes turn towards WEG 2018 in Tyron, North Carolina, in September, and former world number one Fox-Pitt reckons that he and his fellow Brits will be in the hunt for top honours once again.

"The Brits were rank outsiders for the Europeans (in Strezegom, Poland, in 2017) and they won," said the GB veteran, who also won individual silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014.

"Who knows what’s going to happen. GB could be on form.

"Tina Cook is right up there with a good chance and so is Nicola Wilson. Maybe Laura Collett could have some horses.

"The Germans are always in contention - they've got those top riders - but hopefully GB can build on their performance and get a team gold medal."

Fox-Pitt is one of the most successful eventers in history, boasting a seemingly boundless collection of honours.

Having first competed at Badminton in 1993, the British icon admits that he can't quite put his finger on what keeps him coming back for more but he’s more than happy to carry on going with the flow.

"God knows, really," he said.

"I always planned years ago to stop competing after the London Olympics. I kept going until after Rio because I got the ride on Chilli Morning, who I thought was a very serious contender, and I was lucky enough to have sponsorship and everything, so I had the means to carry on.

"So what's keeping me going? I really enjoy the sport. I love my horses.

"It's something I’ve always done. I think it’s something that's probably just in me.

"It's probably a bad habit! I'm addicted to the highs of the sport.

"I don't think anyone is addicted to the lows but there's very few sports that give you the adrenaline rush that eventing does, and so few sports that require the skills, the bravery and the relationship with another animal.

"When you're done, I don't think anything else comes close really. A national hunt jockey might get it, an F1 driver might get it, or a downhill skier - but not many others get the real highs that we get from our sport.

"Now I'm just enjoying my young horses, bringing them on.

"I love training them, working with their ups and their downs, and it's always been a challenge that I've relished."

Sportsbeat 2018