Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Hiroshi Hoketsu, at 67 the oldest competitor in the Beijing Olympics, said he plans to keep riding and won't rule out an appearance at the 2012 London Games.

Hoketsu made his Olympic debut at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo before this week competing in his second Games at the equestrian events in Hong Kong. In the four-decade hiatus, he switched to dressage from jumping.

``I will try my best to ride as long as possible,'' Hoketsu said in a phone interview from his hotel in Hong Kong. ``Ever since I started, the major motivation for me to continue was the feeling that I was improving day by day and enjoying it.''

Exactly 16,000 days passed between the closing ceremony in Tokyo and Hoketsu's final ride in Hong Kong this week -- and there was an improvement. In the individual competition, he was 35th this time on Whisper, five places better than in 1964; in the team event, Japan was 10th, compared with 12th last time.

Facilities have also gotten better over Hoketsu's Olympic career. Hong Kong spent HK$1.2 billion ($154 million) on ``six- star accommodation'' for the horses at Sha Tin and Beas River, featuring four blocks of stables that had 24-hour air- conditioning, revolving feed bowls and ice-making machines.

``All the facilities were very good,'' said Hoketsu. ``The stables are the best you can find in the world.''

Still, Hoketsu said the television screens at the arena were too low, causing a distraction for horses and making it difficult for spectators to watch. Every time Whisper faced the screen, she made a mistake, he said.

``It was a little bit unfortunate and disappointing,'' Hoketsu said.

`Too Much Security'

When asked about the biggest changes since his first Olympics, Hoketsu identified the number of professionals competing in the Games and the level of security.

``I know the security is necessary but it's too much sometimes,'' Hoketsu said. ``It takes so much time to get into the competition area.''

Hoketsu's retirement as a company director for Johnson & Johnson's Japan unit in 2002 meant that he could devote more time to riding.

``After my retirement I could see myself doing nothing else but riding,'' he said. Hoketsu then flew to Aachen, Germany, to team up with trainer Ton de Ridder and initially planned to stay two years. He has now already lived there five years.

Even if Hoketsu rides at the London Games, he won't be the oldest competitor in Olympic history. Sweden's Oscar Swahn was 72 when he took part in shooting at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

Hoketsu is the most senior Japanese Olympian, breaking the record set by equestrian rider Kikuko Inoue, who was 63 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Other riders this year include Karen O'Connor, a 50-year-old American, and France's Jean Teulere, 54, who withdrew because his horse was injured.

When asked how long he can keep competing at the highest level, Hoketsu -- 53 years older than the youngest athlete in Beijing -- let out a chuckle.

``I don't know,'' he said. ``I try not to set any objectives.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Pan in Hong Kong at Apan8@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 19, 2008 23:25 EDT