JUST as a new eventing season gets up and running proper, there has been plenty of movement of riders around the country, as reported in the pages of Irish Horse World.

Another to put down new roots in Waterford, is British native Daniel Alderson after many years working for top producers in this country. He is now based at Orla Byrne’s Forest Lane Stables in Kilmacthomas.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Alderson explained how his move came about. “I finished working for Belline after a great four years with them where I gained a huge amount of experience and learned a massive amount.

“I will always be grateful to Richard (Ames) for the opportunities I had there and it definitely helped me to be confident enough to make this move out on my own,” Alderson said of the big sport horse owner.

“Following Belline I went to work with Brian Morrison and Christopher Hunt at Global Event Horses for two years down in Cork. After that I decided to take a little break and travelled to Australia and New Zealand for two months. I wanted to have a break from horses, which I think is very important because this lifestyle is very tough.

“It was the best experience ever; it was amazing. During that time I decided that I definitely do want to come back to Ireland. I’ve been here seven years now and the support network I have from so many fantastic people made it an easy decision for me.

“Belline is only half-an-hour down the road so I have established relationships with people I teach and ride for. Everyone is so friendly here, I just love it.”

Like many have done in the past, Alderson is also considering changing his nationality to Irish.

“I have been so welcomed here that I think of Ireland as home. I’m considering applying to change my nationality."

“On my return from travelling I was speaking to one of my owners Orla Byrne and we decided that I would base myself at her yard, Forest Lane Stables.

“I moved here in February. We have 15 stables and they are currently all full. I ride Orla’s horses and a couple of her liveries which I have ridden in the past, but have 10 stables which are just for my own horses.

“I love working with youngsters, and producing and selling them is how I plan to make a living, but my goal is to have a string of top-level event horses for owners that I have produced up through the levels and developed a partnership with. My aim is to go to the top level of the sport and make it onto teams.

“I currently have a couple of exciting horses, like Global Java who we bought from Global Event Horses and I know him quite well as I used to event him, and FLS Confusion, both of whom we are hopefully going to step up to two-star.”

Facilities

“It’s been very busy, but I’ve got someone starting to work with me next week named Tom Hayden who will work full-time, helping me ride and look after the horses.

“It’s really beautiful here. We can see the sea from where we are and bring the horses to exercise on the beach. We have a 70 x 40 arena, a lunge pen, a walker and lots of fields to turn out in, as well as great off-road hacking and a woodland we hack around.

“The plan for this year is to settle in and work with the horses we have now, but next year I will be buying in my own stock to sell on.

“I am also on the lookout for owners with horses for the future. I enjoy doing the young horses and have had a lot of success in the four and five-year-old classes, but what keeps me getting out of bed in the morning is jumping around four-stars.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have had success at that level and that is the ultimate goal. For the moment I’ve got a couple of nice youngsters in the Stepping Stones league. We are currently in second place heading into the final, and I have the two horses I mentioned earlier entered in Ballindenisk so that’s all to look forward to. It’s all go.”