Dan HIts the top in week 2 of the Villeneuve Loubet 2010 Festival

Dan has arrived in France for one of his favourite shows, the three week CSI** festival at Vlleneuve Loubet. Dan has taken a big squad of seven horses with him incliding - Milena 8 , High Tone Z, Iolanthe, Pikolino, Attack, Lorca de Caryan and Arielle.

Dan third in CSI*** Zuidlaren Grand PRIX

Dan and Milena 8 put in a fantastic performance to finish in 3rd place in the Zuidlaren Grand Prix 1.55m. In what was a very high class field Milena 8 built on her impressive peformances at the Nantes CSI *** show, to produce two quality rounds of jumping to finish just behind Nathalie Van Der Mei - Heecchiem's Tersina and Kevin Gielen - Robbdoes. This was a top class effort by Dan and Milen 8 finishing ahead of the likes of Jessica Kurten, Albert Zoer, Jos Lansink and Eric Van Der Vleuten and looking comfortable at this height and is clearly a big step forward. "She was very very good today" said Dan "I thought I had a bit of a chance in the jump off but I didn't want to press too hard and let her down. I hope we can build on this and she's starting to show that she can jump at the level and be competitive"

Dan had other noteworthy performances at the show, with Attack producing two excellent performances to jump clear in the 1.40m class on the second day and finishing the show with an impressive 5th place in the 1.45m Accumulator. Dan also stepped up Varo M to the 1.45m class and although she had one down jumped very well. This young horse is super careful and scopey and he continues to improve and will be a valuable member of the squad in 2010.

More International success for Dan at Nantes CSI*** show

Dan showed no signs of slowing down with another outstanding show at the Nantes CSI*** International event in late January.

Quick out of the blocks, Dan started the show with some very solid rounds on day one. Varo M and Chauvanist contested the 7/8yrs old Qualifier and both were in excellent form. After Chauvanist had jumped well, having just one pole, Dan and Varo M looked very impressieve to finish in equal first place with a smooth clear round. The very consistent High Tone Z and Iolanathe both jumped very well in their first class of the show, both having just one pole, but without doubt it was Milena 8 that was the star on day one. Milena 8 has been jumping the very big classes without much luck recently but on the first day of this International show she was on great form jumping a brilliant double clear in the €20,000 World Ranking class to finish a very impressive 2nd

Dan built on his excellent first day with another display of quality and consistent jumping. Varo M and Chauvanist were again in excellent form in the 7/8yr old Final both jumping double clear to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively. These two young horses have been given plenty of time to find their feet and have been excellently managed by Jason and Dan and have improved every year.With this invaluable International experience under their belts both horse look to have an exciting future and 2010 should be a very interesting year for both these talented young horses. HIgh Tone Z has been a money machine recently, and it didn't take her long to yet again get into the winners enclosure with a superb clear round to win the 1.35m A4 contest. This lovely grey mare is on fire at the moment and the enthusiasm she shows every time she gets into the ring is remarkable. Milena 8 was again in top form in the 1.50m €20,000 World Ranking class and was very very unlucky to have just one down to finish in the money in 9th place.

The final day of the show saw more success for Dan and the team. After Varo M jumped an excellent double clear to finish 5th in the 7/8 yr old two phase contest, Dan and High Tone Z decided it was time to win another class with a flawless display in the 1.35m final. Dan was simply brilliant in the jump off with High Tone Z answering his every call taking two amazing turn backs to win convincingly. Iolanthe, who has been rested on day two, was stepped up to the big 1.45m €20,000 World Ranking class on the final day and produced an very impressive display. After jumping clear in the first round she just rubbed a vertical coming off a corner but still finished a very good 10th place. After producing two huge performances on the first two days, Milena 8 finished her show in the Grand Prix and just ran out of petrol finishing with two down.

"I thought it went really well" said a clearly delighted Dan "It was nice to give the younger horses some International experience and both of them stepped up nicely we were really pleased with both of them. High Tone Z was great again, she just tries so hard and is very very genuine, winning 2 classes at this level is very impressive. Iolanthe jumped very well in what was a step up for her and was very unlucky in one of the big classes to have just one down in the jump off. She's very good and hopefully this could be a big year for her. Milena 8 felt really well and showed so much scope on the first two day. She deserved her placings at this show because she's been very unlucky recently. She can handle the very big classes and might surprise over the next few weeks."

DAN Has great start to 2010 with more CSI** wins

Dan confidently brought his impressive 2009 form into the new year with two hard fought wins at the Zwolle CSI** International show in Holland. Dan competed his top three horses High Tone Z, Iolanthe and Milena 8 at the Dutch four day show and all showed that 2010 could be a very good year.

The impressive High Tone Z had yet another outstanding show and quickly got into her stride. After having one pole down in her warm up class, Dan and High Tone Z quickly set about their business with a very fluent 3rd place in the 1.35m Grand Prix qualifier. The qualifying class was the perfect setup for the Grand Prix in which Dan and High Tone Z were simply brilliant winning the class in impressive fashion from a very competitive field. "She felt great from the very first day" said Dan "She was quick and safe and when I asked her some serious questions in the Grand Prix jump off she responded to every one, she feels on top form and the more International experience she gets can only help her progress at International level" added Dan.

Iolanthe, who has been in excellent form over the past few months, showed she is as well as ever in 2010. This dapple grey mare came flying out of the gates on day one and produced a brilliant double clear to win the 1.40m jump off class in great style. Iolanthe is deceptively fast and never gave her opposition any chance in the jump off with a fast and fluent display of accurate jumping. "She was very fresh and enthusiastic from the very start" said Dan "I knew we'd have a good chance in the jump off and she really was explosive when I set her alight, she keeps improving and has now established herself at this height at International level" added a clearly delighted Dan.

Iolanthe was again impressive on day two having just one pole down in the 1.40m jump off class while chasing a very competitive time, and was even unluckier in the Grand Prix as she had the very last fence down in the jump off to finish just outside the placings.

Dan jumped Milena 8 in the big classes at the show and this big jumping dark bay mare continued to show good form in the bigger classes. After having a couple of poles down in her warm up class, Milena 8 was in very good form in the 2nd Grand Prix qualifier and although she had one pole down she jumped with great accuracy over what was a big and testing track. With that good performance on day two being good enough to qualify her for the final of the Grand Prix, Milena 8 again just lowered one pole in the final after another good round of show jumping. "I thought she jumped very well. She was a bit rusty on the first day but the next two days I thought she was very good and with a bit more luck we could have easily been in both jump offs" said Dan.