Chatting with Danielle Curzon

Danielle Curzon is a dressage rider based in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. Danielle enjoyed a very succesful dressage career as a young girl including being part of the British Pony Squad competing in internationals. Having given up riding, she returned to dressage after suffering a stroke and became a double world champion at the Virtus World Para Dressage Championships. Her story is both remarkable and inspirational.

 

How did your dressage journey start and transpire to where you are now?

My Mum got us involved in showing when I was three. She was an extremely talented producer, so it went from there. I started my competitive equestrian career at three years old. County showing. I won HOYS at nine years old with Bengad Duranta in the M&M WHP. I was lucky to compete out in the USA showing at the Ocala HITS winter circuit where I won two classes and was reserve champion. I also won the ladies hack at the Royal International along with many ponies UK, BSPS and side saddle national championships. I started focusing on dressage at twelve years old and was on the British Pony Squad. At YR I competed at a couple of smaller internationals. I trained with Ian Woodhead, Domini Morgan, Laura Fry and Vicky Thompson. I also had some training from Franz Rochavansky.

I retired from horses at age twenty-one and went into a career in security including being personal Bodyguard to Emma Watson when she was in Harry Potter. In 2022 I had a stroke which brought me back to horses. I lived in Malta Montana, for three months.

 

Tell us about your horses

So, my amazing double world champion Dizzy Rascal (DiMaggio x BIOTOP) is owned by Victoria Moss and bred by Sandy Senior. At the beginning of 2023 I put something on Facebook looking for a horse on loan that I could actively compete to regain my British Flags and I was so blessed to have been offered her. She had had three years off as she wasn’t the easiest horse for her previous rider. However, we hit it off together and have an amazing bond. I was told she could be a bit tricky hacking out alone, but we have built such a close relationship and bond we hack out on our own lots. She’s one of those that you need to show her why you want things done a certain way. She certainly would not be a horse for a rider that tries to bully a horse as she just wouldn’t tolerate it. I am so grateful to Dizzy for what she has done. She is truly one in a million. She is the kindest natured horse to handle. She loves stud muffins and polos,

My soul mate stallion Pleasureland AM (Play). My goodness where do I start. I lived in Malta, Montanta for three months in 2022 as my mental health was so bad after the stroke. The frustration of the weakness on my right side was awful. Whilst I was in there, I spent time helping the prime minister’s daughter with her riding and came across this breathtakingly stunning bay stallion. My heart was the moment I laid eyes on him. I became friends with his owner, and it turned out he had been riddled with injuries and issues after suffering abuse and awful training methods in Italy. He was gifted to me. I immediately sought help from a Newmarket trained physio who lived in Malta, Montana. He had a broken poll due to his head being tied down. We became each other’s therapy. He rehabilitated my right side to a point that I felt life was worth living and I loved, adored and cared for him not asking anything of his tired body. The love between us was unbreakable. He came back home to the UK with me and was my therapy horse. He had outstanding bloodlines. His grandfather was the Olympic champion For pleasure and Behind him Furiosso ll. People often wondered why I didn’t do more with him. I did bits and bobs of BD as and when I felt he could. I worked closely with my amazing vet to keep him happy and comfortable for as long as I could. He had his favourite Equine Touch treatments with Aunty Moira Richardson. The mental scars he had were awful, but I spent my days doing everything I could for him. He was my saviour and I was his. He did do one international Virtus video comp and he was in the top six.

In August this year I saw the day I knew would come sooner than I was ready for. His back end gave way in the field, and I knew what I needed to do. I rang my amazing vet Cath from Hill & Phelan and said to get her the dreaded day had come. This was a Friday. She calmly said she would come on Monday. My heart was broken and shattered but that horse had given me everything and I owed for him to leave this world with the dignity he deserved. We had the weekend of all his favourite things. Stud muffins, Chelsea buns, carrots. So many cuddles and kisses. Our amazing local vicar Rev Dixon came and blessed and anointed Play and blessed the area he would gain his wings. On the most devastating day of my life, Cath our amazing vet made it as perfect as it could be. I am still sobbing now, but he is always in my heart, and he left me a precious son which I’m so grateful for. He left this world with the Famous Saracen Shine. The Re-leve mix had been his saviour and the radiance gold gut balancer. The Saracen recovery mash had been amazing at keeping his little mini tummy aches at bay.

Cassy Man – Plays yearling colt Son. He has the best temperament and is the maternal half-brother to Woodlander Summertime Blues. He is the spitting image of his Daddy.

Tysilio Arwr (Hank the tank) – this extraordinary section D was the best second horse to Dizzy. He came second to Dizzy in two Virtus national championships and won a Virtus international video competition judged by an FEI 5* judge beating many different countries. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury in the field and is enjoying life with my friend as an all-rounder.

Now as well, I have the lovely horses at the Mattelli Stud as well which includes a lovely Spanish stallion.

 

You follow an exercise and nutrition plan can you share more?

Unfortunately, I have many health issues which includes Hemeplegic migraines (which are on the rare disease register) and severe chemical intolerances, so I was on the verge of needing a feeding tube. My last chance was Isagenix Nutrition which is all natural and built long Ayurvedic principles. So, I have their shakes a lot of days and ADAPTOGEN herb drinks which settle my nervous system.

Karzan Hughes has been the game changer for getting me straight again after my stroke. The neuro physio believes it was a Thalamic Stroke I had as sadly certain issues have never resolved. Karzan comes to Becky Moody’s when I train there and the three of us work together. I struggle for example in a right half pass as my nerves are damaged in my right so don’t send signals to the brain. My right eye compensates so I’m trying to still learn a different way to cope with that.

 

Who you train with?

I have trained with Becky Moody since December 2024 and Cherry Elvin (List 2A judge) since November 2024. Normally I train once a month with Becky and twice a month with Cherry. At the moment it’s slightly less as we are having a bit of downtime.

 

You became a double world champion at the Virtus World Para Dressage Championships, how did that opportunity arise?

I was diagnosed with Autism and PDA (pathological demand avoidance) subtype in 2022. By chance I fell across something on Facebook re the ll3 (riders with autism) para category. So, in Short Sport Excel UK is the English part of Virtus. Virtus is the equivalent of the FEI for our para category. British Dressage are starting to incorporate the Virtus classes at the Para summer and National winter championships. It really was the most incredible experience. I’m so grateful to of been given the opportunity to do it.

 

Can you share some special memories from your time at Virtus and what the experience meant to you?

The World Championships was immense. It was an extremely proud moment. We were so lucky to have Nick Rodgers as our Team manager. He was a living legend all week. It was amazing to be part of a great GB squad. Having the National anthem played for our Individual world title was another massive moment. Scoring over 80% both days from the legendary Jennie Loriston Clarke was just wow. Also being the highest scoring combination across all the categories both days was pretty cool.

Dizzy Rascal was immense all week. The gratitude I have for her I can’t find the words for. She gave me everything. It was tough for them as like with any championships it was very strict. I got her out to hand graze at every opportunity I could. My Groom Gabby was amazing also.

 

Are there any funny moments from Virtus?

Yes. I got dobbed in by someone for lying on the grass when hand grazing Dizzy. Someone else from Team GB was also doing it but they were laid in the long grass so didn’t get seen. Luckily Nick saw the funny side, and it was a running joke all week that I was off to take a nap.

 

 What are your future aspirations?

To keep my horses happy with a varied life and possibly the MCI Europeans with the Spanish stallion.

 

Your Top Tip

Do lots of hacking and don’t over school the horses. I know some do need more than others but even up to the world championships, I only schooled Dizzy twice a week. We hack at least 3 times a week.

 

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

This has to come from Becky (Moody). Our last training session before the worlds she said, ‘remember it’s ONLY a dressage test.’ That stuck with me massively and every time I felt overwhelmed that sentence was in my head

 

It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?

My mum is always an amazing support. I’m based at the Mattelli Stud which is owned by my friends and owners. They support me every day and we are a good team. My off the horse fitness trainer Karzan Hughes is an integral part of my team and also a friend. George Betson From Fonture Equine Transport has become a great friend as well as a sponsor.

Saracen horse feeds have been an absolute game changer for all the horses. Their feed is just the best. I use the Re-leve mix mainly and of course the recovery mash. My baby also has the stud cubes and at times the Stamm 30.

All my sponsors and companies that have helped me are incredible and I’m so grateful to each and every one. Saracen, Voltaire saddles, Finesse bridles, Neue Schule bits, Radiance Gold, Uvex, Zebra, Four Hills, Weatherbeeta, Ribble Valley, Fonture Equine Transport, Equine Bio Genie, Pet Vertex, Moira Richardson Equine Touch and VHT practitioner, Neem Horse UK.