Local rider wins prestigious national award for eventing

Dan was presented with the runner up prize for the South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) and Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) Elite Performance Award for Eventing with his ex-racehorse, Valemount.
New Zealander Dan collected the award at the Breeders dinner and awards ceremony organised by the British Horse Foundation at the Grange City Hotel, London, on January 12. Leading equine insurance brokers, SEIB sponsor the awards.
The Elite Performance Award for Eventing offers a valuable prize fund of £500 to the runner up, donated by RoR, British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing.
Di Arbuthnot, RoR director of operations, said: “The awards provide a focus for ex-racehorses competing in eventing, dressage, show jumping, endurance and showing, and encourage more riders to recognize the talents and versatility of the thoroughbred and their potential for success in another sphere.”
Valemount was formerly in training with Philip Hobbs in Somerset, and Dan acquired him from the late Joanna Winter.
Dan has previously represented New Zealand in eventing including a place on the New Zealand team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He is thrilled with the progress Valemount has made in the three seasons he has been competing him.
He said “I really think a lot of him and am hoping for him to go on up the grades. I plan to take him advanced in the spring and then hopefully we will do a 3* event over the summer”.
Dan and Valemount had a steady stream of success in 2012 at Novice, Intermediate and 2* level including a third place in the Retraining of Racehorses class at Barbury Castle back in June.
Dan went on to say “I used to compete a lot of ex-racehorses that had been shipped over to the UK from New Zealand.
“I have had a break from them for the last few years and I now have Valemount and two other British ex-racehorses to compete in 2013."
South Essex Insurance Brokers instigated the former Racehorse to Riding Horse Performance Awards in order to support the retraining of the thousands of racehorses who come out of training each year.
“The Performance Awards also provide a platform to show how a correctly re-schooled ex-racehorse can be successful in a new career and continue to have a bright future.
"This year’s competition has proved yet again the versatility and resilience of the thoroughbred”, says Nicolina Mackenzie, Marketing Manager of SEIB.