Boyd Martin

Boyd Martin (born August 20, 1979) is an Australian-born American equestrian competing in the discipline of eventing. He has participated in four consecutive Summer Olympic Games (in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024) and is a two-time Pan American Games team gold medalist and individual gold medalist. He is a two-time CCI5*-L winner.

Biography

Olympic three-day event rider Boyd Martin was born to Toy Dorgan, an American speed skater, and Ross Martin, an Australian cross-country skier. His parents met at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Martin and his sister Brook were raised in Terrey Hills, New South Wales, on the outskirts of Sydney. Boyd started his riding career at the Forrest Hills Pony Club with a pony named Willy.

After high school, he lived at Heath and Rozzie Ryan's Newcastle Equestrian Centre for eight years, first as a working student and later running his own business. During this time, Boyd represented Australia at the Young Rider level against New Zealand on a Trans-Tasman three-day event on Brady Bunch and won the last long-format four-star event at the 2003 Adelaide CCI4* riding True Blue Toozac. He was long listed for the Australian Eventing Team for the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

In 2006, Martin traveled to the United States to compete at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* riding Ying Yang Yo. He and his wife, Silva, later returned a year later to the U.S. to try to compete internationally. For the first three years there, Martin worked as an assistant to Phillip Dutton. In 2010, Silva and Boyd started their own business, Windurra USA. The Martins own a farm in Cochranville, Pennsylvania; during the winters, they are based in Aiken, South Carolina.

International competition In 2009, Martin began representing the United States in international competition. He purchased his horse, Neville Bardos, for $850; Neville had been rescued from the racetrack by another trainer. Martin experienced a barn fire and several personal tragedies in 2011.

Martin was placed 10th at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, riding Neville Bardos; 7th at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, riding Shamwari 4; and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team in London in 2012, riding Otis Barbotiere. In 2015, he placed 4th individually and was a member of the U.S. team at the Pan American Games in Toronto riding Pancho Villa. The following year, Boyd competed at his second Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, riding Thoroughbred Blackfoot Mystery. He placed 16th individually and was the second highest placed U.S. athlete.

As of 2021, he has competed in three Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020, Rio 2016, London 2012), two World Equestrian Games (Tryon 2018, Normandy 2014), two Pan American Games (Lima 2019, Toronto 2015), and has made appearances on numerous teams for the U.S. In 2021, Martin won the Maryland 5 Star CCI5*-L with On Cue. He also finished 4th aboard On Cue at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Eventing CCI5*-L before finishing inside the top twenty aboard Tsetserleg TSF at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2022, Martin was selected to compete on the US Eventing Team for the FEI Eventing World Championships held in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Aboard Tsetserleg TSF, Martin and the team won the silver medal, earning the team's qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Outside of equestrianism, Boyd is a fan of boxing, MMA and hockey.

CCI5*-L results Results Event Kentucky Maryland Badminton Luhmühlen Burghley Pau Adelaide 2000 5th (Flying Doctor) 2001 17th (Flying Doctor)18th (Starkey) 2002 5th (X-Treme) 2003 (True Blue Toozac)18th (Brady Bunch) 2005 8th (Orchard End Winston) 2006 11th (Ying Yang Yo) 2008 9th (Neville Bardos)EL (Ying Yang Yo) 2010 4th (Neville Bardos)11th (Rock On Rose)12th (Remington XXV) 7th (Remington XXV) 2011 7th (Remington XXV) 7th (Neville Bardos) 2012 (Otis Barbotiere)8th (Remington XXV) RET (Ying Yang Yo) 2013 RET (Trading Aces) 2014 (Shamwari IV)15th (Otis Barbotiere) 2015 7th (Master Frisky)25th (Cracker Jack) 2016 6th (Blackfoot Mystery)12th (Shamwari IV)42nd (Steady Eddie) EL (Cracker Jack) 10th (Cracker Jack) 13th (Welcome Shadow)EL (Cracker Jack) 2017 7th (Cracker Jack)RET (Steady Eddie) 10th (Steady Eddie) RET (Cracker Jack) 2018 11th (Tsetserleg TSF)RET (Steady Eddie) WD (Shamwari IV) RET (Steady Eddie) 2019 (Tsetserleg TSF) 20214th (On Cue) EL (Long Island T) EL (Tsetserleg TSF) (On Cue)20224th (Tsetserleg TSF)202314th (Contessa)RT (Tsetserleg TSF)EL (Contessa)4th (Luke 140), 8th (Fedarman B), 25th (Tsetserleg TSF)9th (Tsetserleg TSF), 10th (On Cue)8th (Fedarman B) EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

International championship results