Veteran rider in saddle again for Horse of the Year

Up and over: Veteran Dannevirke equestrian, Doug Isaacson, kicks up the dust on Elmo during the showjumping at the Dannevirke and Districts A&P Show, last year. Reporter: Chris

Dannevirke's Doug Isaacson, 70, is the oldest rider competing in premier events in New Zealand and he's geared up and ready for the Horse of the Year in Hastings.

Isaacson has entered 7-year-old Elmo in the 1.45m Norwood Gold Cup, an event he won in 2008.

Elmo and Isaacson were fourth recently in the Manfeild indoor grand prix, clearing 1.40m, but that has been Elmo's only outing since the duo won the 1.30m competition against the elite riders, came second in the 1.20m and competed in the Horse Grand Prix at the Dannevirke and Tararua Districts A&P Show in February, 66 years since Isaacson first rode at the show.

"Elmo stood on his front foot, so was out of action for a while, before the Manfeild indoor event," Isaacson said.

"Not the ideal preparation for Horse of the Year. I needed to get to some bigger fences before HOY because you have got to have the right judgment and you want your horse focused. I need to be on my game too."

But Elmo and Isaacson will start in the Norwood Gold Cup on Wednesday afternoon, unless something goes wrong.

Isaacson has also entered Elmo in the 7-year-old, 1.25m class on the Wednesday morning, to give the young horse a chance to see the arena.

"If you are going to enter in those bigger classes he has to jump well, so I'll see how he goes in the Norwood before I decide if I'll take him any further," Isaacson said.

"It doesn't seem to phase him to tackle bigger fences, he's got the confidence. But if they get the speed wobbles, which he doesn't, you've got to be careful. You've got to think of your horse's legs when you are facing the big jumps."

And the veteran showjumper admits there's pressure on him too.

"I need to have both eyes completely on the job," he said. "Tackling those bigger fences, well, horses can't sort everything for you. You have to do something yourself. Horses can't dig you out of a hole."

Isaacson doesn't go to the gym and admits he's got the odd tweak and twinge at times.

"You've got to be riding fit," he said. "It's like a lot of things, compare me to Dannevirke's Maurice Beatson who is jumping a lot more horses and entering more showjumping events - it's easier for him."

Isaacson will also have his other smaller 7-year-old My Art Work at Horse of the Year, jumping in the lesser classes.