Kibah Tic Toc, the horse that famously delivered two Olympic gold medals for Australia in three day eventing has died at the age of 36.
Tic Toc was one of Australia’s most successful event horses, winning individual and team gold medals in the three day event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, a feat that very few horses have been able to achieve.
The Australian warmblood was bred and owned by Australia’s first female equestrian Olympian, Showjumper Bridget ‘Bud’ Macintyre who passed away in March.
Tic Toc and Ryan’s triumph at the Barcelona Olympics led Australia’s three day event team to a famous victory and marked the beginning of a decade in which Australia dominated three day eventing at the Olympic Games – the team would go on to win gold at Atlanta and also at Sydney.
Leading into the show jumping phase in Barcelona many thought New Zealand’s eight rail lead was unassailable but the Kiwi’s quickly spent their advantage after Andrew Nicholson knocked down nine rails.
Ryan and Tic Toc could only afford to knock one rail if they were to clinch gold for the team.
As Ryan recalled in a 2001 interview, show jumping was not his strongest phase and there was a nervous wait to see what type of round the pair could produce.
“One of the quirky problems that I had with Tic Toc was the showjumping phase and that must've frustrated the hell out of (owner) Bud, because her specialty was Showjumping. The fact that that was my weakest link in three-day eventing must've really annoyed her.
“Coming into the final showjumping round at Barcelona, my record of knocking so many rails down - everyone knew it.
“(But) I actually felt reasonably confident. I probably had no right to.”
Ryan and Tic Toc cleared all but the last fence which was enough to secure the team and individual gold medals for Australia.
Tic-Toc’s half-brother, Kibah Sandstone also proved a formidable competitor winning gold with Ryan at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Tic Toc returned to Australia and lived most of his life at Kibah and it is here that he will be buried with a memorial erected in his honour.
