Daniel Jocelyn (NZL*) and Blackthorn CruiseCopyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
Eventer Dan Jocelyn is hanging up his stirrups after nearly 30 years of turning his dreams into reality. He’s ridden at two World Championships (2018 and 2002) and at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. He was named for Sydney 2000, but horse injury prevented them riding down the centre line.
His decision to call time came when he opted to retire his top horse Blackthorn Cruise. “I have had a great time,” he says, “and really enjoyed the camaraderie and just being part of the process.”
It all started in 1995 when Andrew Nicholson rode his horse at Puhinui. The event had invited a few greats back and they needed horses. “Andrew said I could come to England and see how it was done.” The 25-year-old didn’t need to be asked twice. Suddenly he was right in the mix with his idols. He went to top events and soaked in as much as he could. The real turning point came when he went to the Open European Championships to see the Kiwis compete. He headed home and told his mum he was taking Teleman to England, leaving behind five-year-old Silence to be flown out the following year. “It was a huge thing to do, to leave New Zealand and never go back. I look back and still can’t quite believe it,” says Dan. “From absolutely knowing nothing about horses to doing this huge journey from scratch is no mean feat.”
His first horse was Wally, a 17hh trotter, gifted to him by his cowboy neighbours in Australia. He quickly progressed to 12.2hh Cindy and the rest is history. After making the big decision to head offshore, he bounced a bit between New Zealand and the UK, working for John Gray and the late Anne Symes before making a full commitment to the Northern Hemisphere.
Dan Jocelyn & Silence, 2004 Athens Olympics Photo Supplied by ESNZ Bulletin Photo Credit Kit Houghton
Silence joined him as a six-year-old with the 2000 Sydney Games in mind. “What a roller coaster that was,” says Dan. “He won the youngest horse trophy at the British Open, placed at Boekelo, competed at Badminton and Burghley, and was selected for Sydney.” However, a training accident on the lead rein saw him break his wither and the dream put on hold. “Silence made a full recovery and was third at Burghley the following year . . . it was my proudest moment to be up there on the podium alongside Andrew (Nicholson) and Blyth (Tait).” Dan and Silence were the only ones to finish on their dressage score and it earnt them selection for the 2002 World Champs at Jerez. “It was my first taste of real pressure and a championship where I was not just riding as an individual.” They placed 12th with the team fifth.
Making the New Zealand team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games was another dream come true for Dan. “To pull on the jersey and be welcomed into the Athlete’s Village by the whole New Zealand team was unforgettable. “As a kid at school I was always looking out the window and wondering what I could jump on my pony if it was with me,” says Dan.
Silence was consistently placed at 4* and 5* events but a field injury meant the in-form combo missed the next World Champs. They made another come back in 2008 and at 18, Silence was 15th at Burghley. Dan retired him and he gave dressage star Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer) a taste of lower level eventing. In 2017, Dan got Grovine de Reve as an intermediate horse from Rodney Powell. Eighteen months later they were at World Champs in Tryon. A year later the horse went to Jonelle Price who competed him at the Tokyo Olympic Games and placed at 5* level.
NZL-Dan Jocelyn rides Grovine de Reve during the Cross Country for the FEI World Team and Individual Eventing Championship. 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon. Saturday 15 September. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
In 2015 he ventured out on Blackthorn Cruise thanks to Panda Christie. He had ridden a couple of younger horses for her and she was keen to get a young horse he could bring up through the grades. The five-year-old Blackthorn Cruise was a real handful but had a jump that was out of this world. “I had never experienced a jump like that. Whatever I pointed him at he jumped. I had to have him! He stayed a real handful his whole career.”
Blackthorn Cruise had his first start in a 100 at Tweseldown in the spring and the following year was placed at Gatcombe in the advanced, marking the beginning of a very solid career. “He has been my second horse of a lifetime and I love him to bits, even though he still bites me in the stable! He did four 5*s and like Silence was only 16hh so had to give everything . . . which he always did.” Their outing at Badminton last year was a real highlight for Dan. “It was the best time ever. I had some of my closest friends there all week and thoroughly enjoyed all phases alongside everything else Badminton had to offer. We finished 26th but I put it up there with one of my best results.” When he heard on the loud speaker that he was the oldest rider there it dawned on him that Blackthorn Cruise didn’t have a successor. He would be Dan’s last 5* horse.
Dan Jocelyn (NZL) rides Blackthorn Cruise during the Cross Country. 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials. Gloucestershire, England. Saturday 10 May 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
He was keen to go to Aachen in 2025 and was named as reserve for the New Zealand team but then Dan broke his neck at a routine training run. “I have broken plenty of bones and had bad concussions but this was different and put me in a bad place. I wanted to end my journey, not have it ended for me. I still had the next World Champs in my mind so pushed hard in my rehab and training with a fantastic team behind me.” They made it to Boekelo in the autumn and came out this year still pushing hard. “But I knew the end was near. I just wasn’t feeling it so much. My body was giving in. I had a great run at Luhmuhlen and decided that was it – no more high level eventing for me. You have to be sharp for the very top and I felt I just wasn’t the same rider.”
Dan and Emma Jocelyn during the course walk for the Showjumping for the FEI World Team and Individual Eventing Championship. 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon. Monday 17 September. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
In bowing out, Dan paid tribute to his wife Emma who he says he has put through the mill in the seven years they have been married. “She has carried the pressures very well and always been there to pick up the reins.” He now looks forward to watching her pursue her own showjumping career.
He also tipped his hat to his long time groom Debbie ‘DJ’ Cunningham. “Thirty years together at every international. I can’t thank her enough and for her love of all the horses.”
Dan and Emma will continue to grow their business, training people and producing a few young horses at their base at Oxstalls. He’ll also be fine tuning his new passion . . . golf. “I have found my new buzz and dived in head on.
Daniel Jocelyn, Debbie Cunningham and Blackthorn Cruise during the second day of Dressage for the CCIO4*-S FEI Eventing Nations Cup | Netherlands. 2025 Military Boekelo-Enschede. Friday 10 October 2025. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
“Looking back now, it still feels like I am dreaming. I loved watching all the good riders and would try and copy them and build my own understanding of horses. My job with John and Anne was the best one a boy could ever have. I had some extremely memorable rides cross country. This was the phase that got me hooked and what I excelled at. I have so many great memories from a sport I will continue to love.”
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ