London 2012 Olympics: anger in equestrian ranks as Britain loses three top medal hopes to rivals teams Sultan V, bred by Bruce Menzies, was a Nations Cup regular, while Robert Smith's Talan was a runner-up in the King George V Gold Cup. Talan will be ridden by HH Prince Faisal, a regular on the Saudi Arabian team. No figures for the three sales have been confirmed, but horses capable of producing two clear rounds over the challenging 1.65-metre fences expected in Olympic team competition command £2 million-£5 million. Britain has a strong record in Olympic eventing and show jumping but the loss of three such talented horses has caused concerns over performances at the home Olympics. Menzies said he was "gutted" that Sultan V's owners, Old Lodge Stud, had agreed to sell the horse. It's a massive blow. I've spent five years producing the horse and have nothing else of his standard," he said. British team manager Rob Hoekstra said he was disappointed that Britain had lost three talented horses so close to the deadline. "It's disappointing but understandable to lose horses in this way," he said. Like all modern sports such as cycling, tennis and football, show jumping has evolved to be part-sport, part-business and it has to be this way to enable our riders to compete at the top level. The deadline exists to ensure the changes of ownership happen now and gives stability to the athletes before the Games. We have lost three but look at all the horses we have kept thanks to a depth of loyal owners. Horse-trading has always underpinned show jumping but the emergence of richly-funded equestrian federations in the Middle East has proved irresistible to many UK and European horse-owners. The dilemmas arise when a horse turns out to be a once-in-lifetime medal chance but whose timely sale could pay off the mortgage and recoup the costs of the dozens of horses over the years that did not make top grade. Talan's rider, Guy Williams, will now rely on his other prospect, Depardieu Vant Kiezelhof, who won the Masters at Olympia and Mechelen in consecutive weeks. "I can only take one horse to the Olympics, I can't ride two, can I?" he said. Saudi Arabia have been competitive on a global level jumping since Sydney 2000 when Khaled Al Eid won individual bronze. Abdullah Al Sharbatly won world silver in 2010 on a European medal-winning horse acquired from Italy just six weeks beforehand. Few equestrian federations can afford to put capital into key team horses and Britain have relied on millionaire enthusiasts including Lord Harris, chairman of Carpetright plc, and Lord Kirkham, who last year sold his controlling interest in DFS. They jointly own four Olympic prospects with Tina Fletcher and Laura Renwick, and pulled off their own earlier this month buying Ukrainian horse Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof for 2010 WEG team member Scott Brash earlier last month. Dressage rider Carl Hester has rejected multi-million sums for Uthopia since his 2011 European gold and silver medal successes, though majority owner, Sasha Stewart, came close to accepting an offer over Christmas. Hester came under fire for selling a previous team horse, Escapado, in to fund his first house and stables after 15 years of renting. He said: "It's difficult. People say, let's club together and save the horse for the nation, but then nothing happens so you sell, and then everyone complains. The equestrian events are set to be among the most photogenic of the London Games, with the three-day event cross-country course set out in Greenwich Park, itself a controversial location following objections from local residents. Horse sales Talan 12-year-old Dutch warmblood by Concorde Picked for 2011 European championship squad after strong Nations Cup performances in La Baule, Hickstead and Dublin and second in King George V Gold Cup, but withdrawn through injury. Will strengthen hand of HH Prince Faisal, member of Saudi Arabia's recent gold medal team at Pan Arab Games. Titus 12-year-old Dutch warmblood by Lancelot Elevated to GB European squad after Talan's withdrawal and contributed to team bronze in Madrid. Almost certainly required as backup by Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander, the world No 7, who runs dominant European stable with Dutch husband, Global Champions Tour supremo Jan Tops. Sultan V 10-year-old Swedish warmblood by Irco Mena Won the Horse & Hound Foxhunter final, UK's premier championship for young horses and impressed on two promotional league Nations Cup teams in 2011. New rider not yet named by Saudi Arabia but could be useful backup for Sydney 2000 bronze medallist Khaled Al Eid.