Mary Elizabeth King MBE DL (née Thomson, born 8 June 1961) is a British equestrian who competes in eventing.

Her father, Lieutenant-Commander M D H Thomson was a naval officer who suffered for the rest of his life from the consequences of a motorcycle accident that happened before Mary was born.

[1] She did not grow up in a horsey family, but became fascinated by the vicar's pony, and eventually, aged 6, she persuaded her mother to lead her around the lanes on it.

It was not until she went to watch the Badminton Horse Trials, aged 11, with Axe Vale Pony Club, that she realised she wanted to become a professional three-day-event rider.

[3] After school, she went to work for Sheila Willcox, a former European Champion, where she learned everything, from breaking in and producing young horses, to top class stable management.

Subsequently, she joined the tall ship, Sir Winston Churchill, first as a trainee, then as a watch leader, before returning to set up her own stables.

To supplement her income, she cleaned houses, cooked, kept gardens tidy for people and delivered meat for the local butcher.

[3] Funding proved even more difficult in 1988 when she started competing professionally, requiring her to sell horses which had proven successful.

She has won; King was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.