Saddling up for Athens

Britain picked up just one medal

Great Britain's equestrian team will return from the Sydney Games with one medal - roughly what most people expected. The BBC's Lee McKenzie explains how that tally might be improved in the future.

There was always a good chance of success for Great Britain in the team three-day event - and they did not let the country down by taking silver - but the rest of the Olympic equestrian operation was notably less successful.

There is likely to be a major inquest, followed by attempts to establish a new strategy for Athens in 2004.

This will require some serious forward planning on the part of the team management as well as co-operation by the governing bodies of all three sports.

British three-day eventing is in reasonably good shape, but the dressage team failed to feature significantly beyond the opening stages while the show-jumping continues to be very disappointing.

Potential

That is the area where the most urgent modernisation seems to be required.

At grass roots, show-jumping is still strong. Shows are well-attended and there are plenty of youngsters who love to ride their ponies.

The question that must be addressed is what happens to them as they grow older.

The average age of the British team in Sydney was over 40.

Youngsters with potential must be identified and given every encouragement to pursue a riding career rather than other, more obviously lucrative, alternatives.

Funding

This will require considerable funding - and it is up to those in charge to make it work.

The Great Britain equestrian team boss Matt Straker, backed up by his deputy Toby Vincent, are the right men to have at the helm.

They have a vision of the future, and how it can work, but for them Sydney 2000 was only the beginning of what could be a very long process.