‘He took off like a Harrier jump jet’

OPPOSITION BUZZ was one of eventing’s most unconventional stars, known for his vertical, cat-like leaps.

“He was phenomenal, with a unique style,” admits Nicola Wilson, who rode

“Dodi” to multiple European and WEG team medals and team silver at the 2012 London Olympics. “He could take off from anywhere and frequently did. On the occasions he landed on all fours, we would get the most awful judder — even my teeth would chatter.

“As a novice, I found him really difficult and often felt like giving up,” she explains. “Three or four strides from the jump, he’d drop the bridle, and somewhere within those strides he would take off. One trainer said he would never get past intermediate. I wasn’t sure I dared go advanced — I didn’t know if we could stretch that far.

“I was aware that people laughed at his weird way of going. Rosemary [Search, his owner and breeder] said he looked like a Harrier jump jet taking off. At Belton once, he helicoptered over the first part of a coffin, which was meant to be a stride and a stride, and took off, so I just sat tight and tried to stay with him. The commentators were giggling so much that they had to turn off the speaker.

“As he got older and more mature, and taught me how to ride him, we found a way,” adds Nicola, who treasures the partnership she had with Dodi. “All I heard from then on were ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from spectators. He had such a massive heart and lived for eventing. He was so honest and brave — every question you asked of him, he answered.”

Dodi died in 2014, soon after his retirement. Thanks to his inimitable style, Nicola believes that she is now more openminded about what makes the “perfect” equine athlete.

“Anything is possible, if you can just find the key to a horse and learn to work with him,” she says.