YOU know that picture of the iceberg illustrating success? The visible tip of the iceberg - the rosette, the gold medal, the lap of honour - is underpinned by a huge invisible volume of work, training and tenacity.
For Dan Jocelyn, the visible tip is two top-25 finishes at Badminton this year.
The invisible graft to get to that point is exemplified by an image of the rider hobbling round a bark track on a chilly winter day, leading a horse who might or might not be sound.
The New Zealand rider has lived in Britain for nearly 30 years and is a longstanding fixture on the eventing scene - he was eighth at Badminton in 1999 and rode at two championships on his great partner Silence. But bar an appearance at the 2018 worlds as an individual, he hasn't ridden at a championship since the 2004 Olympics.
"It's definitely been a journey - from horses being taken away from me to the fact I've had some major injuries over the past nine or 10 years," he reflects.
"I stopped smoking after an accident at Gatcombe in 2013 when I broke both my arms and busted my foot. Not only could I not walk, I couldn't put my arms in crutches - I was literally immobile. I hate the pain and the whole thought of it. It's been a bit of a reflection, thinking about what your body can and can't cope with.
"I always thought of myself as the young person in the group. When I came over here, it was Mark Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Blyth Tait. I don't know when it happened, but I'm the old guy now. I know how hungry all the young people are because that's what I was." But at 52, Dan's hungry too. He's spurred on by the lure of another team appearance and most of all, a medal.
"It's my only motivation - my be all and end all," he admits.
"As a rider at the highest level, I just feel unsatisfied. I've always been driven by being part of the New Zealand team and representing my country.
This story is from the July 20, 2023 edition of Horse & Hound.
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This story is from the July 20, 2023 edition of Horse & Hound.
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