About Us...
Aster Horses comprises of a small, but very close knit team of equine professionals. Alongside our everyday schooling, training, breeding and competing activities we are supported by a fantastic group of vets, farriers, saddlers and physios. You can find out more about them HERE. Scroll down to find out more about our HQ team: Daniel, Craig, Primrose and Anne.
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Daniel Watson
Grand Prix Rider and Coach
Daniel Watson is an internationally respected rider and trainer, representing Great Britain on numerous occasions, both in the UK and abroad. He trains and competes a wide variety of horses from youngsters right through to those competing at Grand Prix level. Daniel also has an interest in breeding, based at the Aster Horse HQ, Fiddlers Green Stud in Kent.
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When he was sixteen Daniel completed an equine business diploma at Hartpury College. His course tutor at the time sat him on his dressage horse and he was "instantly hooked!" What followed was working pupil placements at two top British yards, and also one in Germany.
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Daniel has had many career highlights to date, winning the best international Rider award at the Sydney CDI 2009, the Nations Cup on Fideramber in 2013 and on Amadeus in 2017. Aster Butterfly and Aster Berlin are both currently competing at Grand Prix.
Daniel has been lucky enough to have many memorable moments, his horses make him proud every day. Daniel thinks it is very difficult to give yourself particular goals in this sport. "This depends on the level of training at any particular time for that horse. If a horse is ready to compete, then he will go to that show; if he isn’t, then he does not!" He loves all aspects of the sport from the young horses to riding at Grand Prix.
A usual day for Daniel might involve riding two or three visiting client's horses, riding his own horses, coaching clients of all levels and supporting his partner, Craig in all the Aster activities, including the planning and implementation of the Aster breeding programme.
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Daniel enjoys has enjoyed his successful career, but also takes great pleasure in supporting Craig and his coaching clients to achieve their goals and dreams.
Alongside his riding commitments Daniel has recently passed his first two sections of the List two judging programme and has one stage to go before being a List two judge. He is also now a qualified UKCC3 coach.
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Training and breeding dressage horses...
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Daniel has taken a wide variety of horses through the levels and has great experience of training dressage horses.
"The hind leg is very important. They must be active and under the body. Three good paces and a trainable mind. Suppleness in the back and the ability to sit on the hindleg. I don’t go for a big trot. You can make that. Clear and regular walk and canter are far more important."
Daniel has worked with so many different lines and values every horse as an individual. He states "As a rider, you need the ability to see potential and change your ways to suit each horse. I like energy and horses that are forward thinking."
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As a leading rider who advises owners on selecting young horses, Daniel supports the BEF Futurity series and believes the British Breeding is the best it has been in years.
"There are many people working tirelessly to improve British Breeding. I would like to see horses’ breeding details in all national class schedules and commentary. Breeding prizes are important at the big shows and more publicity in general is needed in the national and international media. Breeders have to realise that it is not just the stallion that counts – you must also have a good mare. Mares should also have the opportunity to be competition horses: this is the only way you find out if that horse is worth breeding a foal from!"
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Daniel looks forward to the future of training more horses to their full potential under the multi faceted umbrella 'Aster Horses', alongside his regular coaching and educational commitments.
Craig Messenger
PSG Rider, Coach & Stud / Show Centre Manager
Craig, who is Daniels partner, has been riding horses since the age of eight years old. He qualified as a professional jockey at the age of seventeen. Following his dream, Craig raced professionally for ten years, was forced to retire at 26, following an accident that left him with a shattered left leg. Still wanting to pursue a career working with horses, Craig recovered and travelled to Australia. He worked for the famous Gai Waterhouse in Sydney. This opportunity gave him valuable experience as a horseman, riding some of the best race horses in the world.
Whilst in Australia Craig also worked on a ranch, breaking in over 100 horses over a three-month period alongside, producing the horses for the polo market. This impactful experience provided Craig with a wealth of knowledge that he uses to this day.
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After returning from Australia, Craig set up his own yard in Cranbrook, Kent. A small yard of fifteen horses dealing with problem horses and young ones. Craig soon gained a respectable and trustworthy reputation for himself. His kind and gentle approach gave him fantastic results with a range of horses labelled as 'difficult' and his client list grew as word spread about his ability to work with horses.
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In February 2017 Craig met Daniel. Soon after meeting, they decided to work together. Their combination of dressage, schooling and young horse producing skills gave a unique opportunity to build a business . Craig and Daniel are still working closely with one another today. Their relationship has become even stronger which shows from their continued success, in a wide range of equine activity.
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Craig enjoys all disciplines of the Equestrian Sport. He enjoys training the young horses and seeing them develop, but also has a real passion for breeding.
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He has been very successful at Dressage, riding homebred Aster horses and several other horses for private owners. He has frequently represented the South & East British Dressage region at Inter regional events and in 2024 was on the winning team at the Home Nations, also taking the top podium spot in his section. Craig has also had many successes at Area Festivals and Regional championships, being a frequent finalists at both the Petplan Championships and National Championships.
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Alongside his work at Aster horses, Craig also volunteers as Marketing & Sponsorship Manager for the South and East British Dressage Region. He also manages the Kent County Dressage Team who won the prestigious Inter County Team Challenge in 2024. Craig has also developed teams for the Team Quest series. In 2018 and his team gained a coveted top ten placing at the Nationals Team Quest Championships, which he is very proud of.
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Craig will continue to do what he loves - breeding and training horses. He is also an ambitious and encouraging coach, using his knowledge to work with clients from a wide range of disciplines.
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" I enjoy what I do on a daily basis and couldn't see myself doing anything else. I love my horses and with the right training and care they will always try to please us the best they can. I couldn't do what we do on a daily basis without my team. Although people see Daniel and I as the face of the business, the team are always the stars in my eyes.
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Primrose Hawker
Head Groom
Primrose is a hardworking, enthusiastic young woman. Her previous experience, working within the showing world has enabled Primrose to develop world class grooming skills, alongside her ever expanding work with the youngstock at Aster. Primrose takes great pride in turning the horses out to a very high standard and we value her amazing attention to detail. Primrose also shows and competes at affiliated dressage on her own horses, furthering her own experience of competitive riding.
