AUSTRALIA'S first Olympic equestrian Margaret McIver has long been a beloved trailblazer and teacher in her discipline.
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The nation's equestrian fraternity is mourning the loss of a woman they say is a legend.
Ms McIver died, aged 86, peacefully on Tuesday morning in Ballarat.
She is the third Ballarat Olympian to die in the past 13 months, with the city's elite sporting ranks also losing 'original Olympian' and high jumper John Vernon and one of Australia's best middle distance runners Graham "Gruffy" Crouch.'
Ms McIver was well-known for showjumping and eventing before she took up dressage and took her game to the world stage.
Largely self-taught, Ms McIber travelled to Europe in the early 1980s in a bid to qualify for the Olympics, leaving her husband Ken and children for six months. Dressage was a sport in its infancy in Australia at the time.
Ms McIver competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Games on her horse CK. The Los Angeles Games was incidentally where her son Charlie, met his wife-to-be Jan.
A family statement reads: "Margie will be forever loved and missed by her close family. She will always be known for her stubborness, quick wit, kindness, humour and friendship".
Public message via social media paid tribute to a woman beloved for her contributions to her sport and incredibly generosity in mentoring others.
Feisty, funny, strong yet sweet...An inspiration to all to reach for your dreams
- Kim Aston
Growing up in Gordon, Ms McIver's first show was on Houri at the Waubra Gymkhana, aged 15, in 1948.
Ms McIver became a well-known competitor at Melbourne Royal with her show jumper Bonanza and combined this with three-day eventing with Pyewacket.
"This was when eventing included miles of roads and tracks, steeplechase, roads and tracks again," Equestrian Memories Australia wrote.
Ms McIver continued her passion for dressage as a coach, judge and coach educator. She was awarded an honourary doctorate in sports science at University of Ballarat in 2007.
Ms McIver was still teaching until last month.
Margaret McIver is survived by her sons Kenneth (Charlie), Samuel, their partners Jan and Jane and four grandchildren.
The family will share a video recording of Ms McIver's funeral at a later date.
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