There was a time when Dan Jocelyn and Joe Meyer, both now 54, were the young pretenders of the New Zealand squad. Now, they represent the two senior riders at MARS Badminton Horse Trials.

Dan first rode here in 1999 on Silence, finishing eighth, and Joe made his debut a year later, on Jovial Sam, 20th. Joe now lives in Ocala, Florida, and is returning to Badminton for the first time in 15 years, riding the grey ex-racehorse Harbin.

“Harbin reminds me very much of Snip [his 2008 Olympic ride] who used to go really well at Badminton [they were seventh in 2007],” explained Joe, whose family bred both Charisma, Mark Todd’s dual Olympic champion, and Silence. “Plus I may be trying to work on gaining my second Armada Dish [for five Badminton completions]. It was quite an upheaval to come here, but it’s awesome to be here again.”

Dan, who has been based in the UK since 1995 and rode at the 2004 Olympics, is also working up to a second Armada Dish. He has been competing the 16-year-old Blackthorn Cruise for 11 years. “I rode Silence for 12 years and these two horses have taken me all over the world,” he said.