Imported from Australia, where he was a national record-holder, he has been doing the Christmas rodeo circuit, competing in both barrel-racing and rope-and-tie events.
Ridden by North Canterbury cowgirl Emily Roxburgh, he won the second division barrel race at Te Anau rodeo and again at Omarama on Saturday.
He then changed down a gear and safely took young Makenzie Causer (9) around the barrels in the junior barrel race.
The duo were second at Te Anau and fourth at Omarama.
He also partnered Makenzie's father, Graeme, in the rope-and-tie event, achieving third place at Omarama.
Leah Causer, herself an open barrel racer, said Dawson was an ''awesome'' horse who won a national roping title in New Zealand with Patrick McCarthy.
Dawson did a ''beautiful job'' with Makenzie and she was happy for the pair to do the circuit, because he was such a sweet horse.
Yet when Emily got on him, he went ''flat tack''.
Makenzie made her barrel-racing debut at the Tough Enough To Wear Pink rodeo at Waikouaiti last year.
While she was nervous that first time, she no longer got worried, Makenzie said.
Dawson was only taught to run drums about two weeks before the rodeo season started but was such a willing horse, he picked it up quickly - and was winning.
''He gives it his everything,'' Mrs Causer said.
Makenzie has two younger sisters, Paige (7), who borrowed a horse at Te Anau rodeo and received a huge cheer from the crowd as she competed in the barrel race, and Cassidy, who is nearly 5.
The family live in Christchurch during the week and spend weekends at their farm at Methven.
They enjoyed rodeo events in summer and skiing in winter.
Both were true family sports, Mrs Causer said.
Police were pleased with the behaviour of those attending the rodeo, with the only arrest being a 23-year-old Australian man for offensive behaviour, Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said.
Results were:
Open events.
Bareback: Joe Fentiman (Otago) 1, Glenn Jones (Canterbury) 2, Nathan Keown 3.
Rope and tie: Michael Sanderson (Otago) 1, Anthony Perkins (Southland) 2, Graeme Causer (Canterbury) 3.
Saddle bronc: Larry Williamson (Otago) 1, Simon Roughan (Otago) and Kerry LaValley (Canada) equal 2.
Barrel race: Angie Perkins (Canterbury) 1, Tineka McDonald (Otago) 2, Kate Fisher (Canterbury) 3.
Steer wrestling: Anthony Perkins 1.
Team roping: Nev Sarginson (Canterbury) and James Roxburgh 1; Scott Mayberry (Canterbury) and Nicole Sarginson 2; Pat McCarthy (Otago) and Kate Haugh 3.
Bull ride: Adam Jamison (Canterbury) 1, Brent Gillespie (Otago) 2, Ben Turner (Otago) 3.
Second division
Bareback: Jonathon Robinson (Australia) 1.
Saddle bronc: Jared Mee (Otago) 1, Hayden Tisdall (Middlemarch) 2.
Barrel race: Emily Roxburgh (Canterbury) 1, Catherine Hore (Christchurch) 2, Kylie Brenssell (Otago) 3.
Bull ride: Cor Vlaanderen 1, Craig Gillespie (Otago) 2, Dylan Winsloe (Southland) 3.
Junior barrel race: Paige Church (Otago) 1, Micayla Brenssell (Otago) 2, Scott Tisdall (Otago) 3.
Junior steer ride: Clint McAughtrie (Omarama) 1, Sam Church (Palmerston) 2.
Calf ride: Logan Cornish 1.
