Biography

British-based New Zealander Dan Jocelyn (54) last competed at Badminton in 2023 gaining two completions – Cooley One Too Many and Blackthorn Cruise – his sole entry this year. In 2024 the combination completed Burghley.

Dan, who was born in New South Wales Australia, relocated to the UK in 1995. He now runs a training, sales and livery yard near Oaksey in Wiltshire with his wife Emma, alongside finding and producing young horses.

Dan came to prominence with Silence who was bred at the Mamaku stud with who he represented New Zealand in the 2002 WEG (12th) and the 2004 Olympic Games (30^th). The combination was previously selected for the 2000 Sydney Olympics but had to withdraw after Silence broke his withers. Despite his devastating injury Silence came back ‘better than ever’ and the pair went on to contest four-star events over 11 seasons. After his retirement after Burghley in 2008 Silence was competed at lower levels by British team dressage rider Laura Tomlionson (nee Bechtolsheimer). Dan then competed the full brothers Special Attorney and Special Advocate up to and at four-star.

In 2021 he broke his leg in a fall at Hartpury requiring surgery.

Dan is married to Emma. His 22-year-old daughter Jazz is a work rider for Godolphin in Newmarket. He trains with Alex Franklin Grant Wilson and The Captain. In his spare time Dan enjoys golf.

Blackthorn Cruise owned by event rider Panda Christie and rider is a 16-year-old registered Irish Sport Horse gelding. He is by the KWPN show jumper Vancouver out of Ms Cruise by Cruising. Ms Cruise is also the dam of Clonkee Stud’s approved grand prix jumping stallion Numero Cruise. Blackthorn Cruise was acquired by Panda as a five-year-old from Vere Phillips and has been produced by Dan. He had major surgery requiring 18 months off but came back ‘as good as ever’ and contested his first Badminton in 2023 and was part of the travelling reserves for the Paris OG. He is described by Dan as ‘my second horse of a lifetime’.