Doug Isaacson of Dannevirke has schooled Brother Brown from baby jumps to grand prix showjumping since Christmas.
He had leased Brother Brown out after he trained him up from a 2-year-old and won the Silver Fern Stakes on him at the Horse of the Year in 2009.
"The girl that had him just couldn't get a partnership and it ended up he wouldn't go at all, so we will see if we can get back up to where he was before," he said.
He was unsure of his chances this year on Brother Brown.
"It's like sitting on a knife edge, because he's gone through a bad patch with the other rider," he said.
"He seems to trust me now but I'm biting off a bit more than I ought, probably.
"He can jump the height but he has to have confidence that everything is okay.
"The hardest thing with a horse is that they have to be brave, they have to be careful and they have to be bold.
"Usually when you get a rider that's brave they're a bit bone-headed, like a rugby player who can take a hammering himself. These guys hate getting hurt but they've got to be brave enough to jump and you've got to be bloody careful not to over-face them; that's a real challenge."
On Wednesday they came sixth after two clear rounds in the 1.4m class, but the decision had been made that it was the end of the road for Brother Brown.
It was a decision made easier because Mr Isaacson won the same 1.4m class on Brother Brown's full brother, Major Brown.
So Mr Isaacson found himself competing in the Silver Fern Stakes again yesterday on the brother of his last victorious steed.
Mr Isaacson was an experienced horseman, having won the Horse of the Year title in 1979, and he retired as Huntsman for the Dannevirke Hunt 13 years ago, after 25 years service.
His hunt experience had opened doors.
"At the Melbourne Hunt they employ me to look after their fox hounds over winter."
The Melbourne Hunt Club was established in 1853 and was the oldest hunt club in Australia.
"I've got to get the foxhounds fit, and then find some horses to do the job.
"I'll probably find horses that have jumped and polish them up a bit."
He said fox hunting was not always as good a ride as hunting hare.
"The biggest problem with the fox is he doesn't go far and he will duck down a hole, go to ground, so a run can then be over."
The CRT Co Op Silver Fern Stakes Hastings District Council Trans Tasman Test started at 5.30pm last night.
Doug's Major effort to land title
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