Biography

New Zealand international rider Joe Meyer (54) last competed at Badminton 15-years ago in 2010. Between 2006 and 2010 (incl) he was a regular competitor gaining six completions and a best result in 2007 when 7^th with Snip with who he completed four times. He was a former member of the New Zealand team and in 2006 with Snip competed at the both the World Games in Aachen and the 2008 Olympic Games.

Last year with Badminton entry Harbin Joe completed the 5*L in Lexington (14^th).

Joe comes from an equestrian background. Joe’s Mother Gay was a former National Champion in New Zealand and with her husband John owned the New Zealand Sport Horse stud, Mamaku stud – they owned the stallion Tara Mink sire of Mark Todd’s double Olympic gold medallist Charisma as well as the stallion Silent Hunter sire of the homebred Snip and Dan Jocelyn’s former international horse Silence.

Having successfully competed in Juniors in New Zealand Joe first came to the UK in 1996 and for several years during the early 2000s was based in the UK. Joe is now based in Ocala, Florida with his wife Ruthie – a former rider who forged her own horse agent business – where they source and produce horses for the sport. The couple has two daughters, 16-year-old Lexi and 14 Vivi both who ride.

Away from horses Joe enjoys snowboarding, fishing and water sports. He trains with Richard Barrett.

Harbin is a grey 15-year-old off the track Irish-bred thoroughbred gelding. Bred by the Airlie Stud, he is by Verglas out of mare by Rainbow Quest. He was an ‘unsuccessful’ racehorse and started eventing at the age of eight initially with American Rebecca Brown who competed him to 3*S level. Joe acquired Harbin from Rebecca in 2021. According to Joe, Harbin looks very similar to his former successful partner Snip.