It will be a huge moment in the career of Skelton (pictured above), who will be riding Big Star owned by Beverley Widdowson, as the 54-year-old from Warwickshire will be competing in his sixth Olympic Games in London.

"The horses are going well at the moment and I hope we've got a good chance although you never know what will happen on the day," Skelton said.

"Henry [Big Star] is a placid, easy going horse and doesn't seem to mind the big occasions so I wouldn't think Greenwich will faze him too much.

"I've just got to thank Gary and Beverley Widdowson, the horse's owners who've stuck by me even through I'm getting on a bit in years.

"Having a horse at the Olympics has always been their aim.

"They've refused a lot of money and not many would have resisted the temptation to sell so I'm very lucky to have their support."

On the other end of the scale, Brash, the 26-year-old from Peebles in Scotland, is the youngest member of the four and will be riding Hello Sanctos which is owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham.

Although Brash (pictured below) will be making his Olympic debut in Greenwich, the Scottish number one is no stranger to team selections as a regular competitor for Britain on Nations Cups squads since 2010.


"I am just so pleased," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to it and getting out there and focusing on the job in hand.

"I remember watching the Olympics four years ago and never thought that I would be in the position I'm in today where I'm preparing for London 2012."

Charles, the 52-year-old from Hampshire, will be making his Team GB debut at London 2012 although he has previously competed for Ireland at the Games at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.

The Liverpudlian will be riding Vindicat W owned by Olga White, Tara Charles and Team Murka.

"It's good, I don't usually get too emotional about these things but this is different – it's already a great achievement and a great honour for me to be selected to compete for Team GB," he said.

"I'll now sit down with our performance manager Rob (Hoekstra) to make plans for our best preparation."

Finally, Maher (pictured below), the 29-year-old from Hertfordshire, will be riding Tripple X III owned by the Quainton Stud and rider.

He will be attending his second Olympics having competed at Beijing 2008.


"It's amazing; it's just a dream to be in the Olympics, the news hasn't really sunk in," he said.

"Making the team is one thing but the hard work really starts now, there's a lot of pressure to live up to, hopefully we can pull everything together at the right time.

"I love competing on home soil, it's lucky for me and it will be great that so many people who've helped me get where I am will be able to relate to that."

Also named is the Team GB travelling reserve Tina Fletcher, the 47-year-old from Oxfordshire who is riding Hello Sailor owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham.

Equestrian team leader Will Connell said he is delighted with the selection for the Olympics.

"This announcement completes the selection of the Team GB equestrian team for the London 2012 Olympic Games," Connell said.

"The selected jumping team athletes mirror the other Team GB equestrian teams, in that they are a mix of youth and experience.

"This is an exciting team that is very much in the ascendancy in terms of their results and their horses' competition experience.

"London 2012 will be the most competitive Games in history; it is going to be exciting, it is going to be very close, it is going to be nerve-wracking, it is going to be memorable."

The first round of the jumping competition starts on August 4, with the team competition set for August 5 and 6 and the individual final on August 8.

All four British athletes will compete in an Individual event as well as the team competition although only the three best scores will count towards the team result.

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