I first met Ian Benson in September 2002 when I came on work experience at his horse facility in Waipu from London, and was struck immediately by the warm and personable environment he has created here. Ian is 100% people-centric, with a totally selfless dedication to the development of others, be it on a horsemanship, emotional or spiritual level.

On countless occasions, I have witnessed first-hand the incredible impact Ian and his horses can have on an individual’s life, including my own, from increasing the self-confidence of a shy and nervous child, to highlighting the control dramas and insecurities of a successful businesswoman.

He is inclusive, non-judgmental, with the patience of a saint and has the unerring ability of touching everyone he meets, identifying their issues or problems in a completely unobtrusive manner and guiding them towards a solution.

Ian has truly struck gold here in Waipu and his commitment to using this for the greater good of his local community is unwavering. Here is an enormously talented man, with an infectious love of life, who is totally focused on his vision. I, for one, truly believe this talent can not only prove itself invaluable to the local community, but to New Zealand as a whole.

I count myself blessed to have met Ian Benson, as others around the globe would no doubt agree.

- Jo Isaacs, Marketing Account Director, London