But after arriving in Australia last week, Rose is bracing to be beaten by teenagers as he aims to give his horses competition education and pick up crucial international qualification points.

Rose will fly back to his England base on Sunday just hours after the competition finishes at Equestrian Park.

The 44-year-old won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and bronze in Rio last year, but has already set his sights on gold at Tokyo in 2020.

"Our competition system is like a stepping stone, so I need Canberra's CIC three star competition as a qualification to do a long format event which is what the Olympics is later in the year," Rose said.

"That competition is then a part of the qualification system leading up to the world championships and Olympic Games."

Rose and fellow Olympian Stuart Tinney will join 280 other riders when they compete in dressage, cross country and showjumping events.

"It's not based on the rider's ability it's based on the horse's education level," Rose said.

"If I've got a young horse that is coming out for the first time I can be competing against a 10 or 15-year-old kid on their pony that has had a really good relationship for years and get my pants beaten quite comfortably."

Rose is preparing several horses for the Tokyo Olympics to give him qualification back ups after missing the London Games.

"The aim for me will be to have two or three horses that are competing at the highest level with a chance at being able to win an individual medal and if something happens to one, then I've got another one to back it up."

The International horse trials will be on Saturday and Sunday, with competition start at 8am and finishing at 5pm on both days.