Well, things are in full swing now, with our 2nd full event of the season finished. We had a successful weekend at Weston Park, with Holly finishing 3rd in a very competitive novice section. We put our jockey error of last week behind us, and a lovely dressage was followed by the most unfortunate fence down before a foot perfect cross-country round.
Purdey (pictured top) and Crunchie did equally good dressage tests, much more settled than last week! A very tough showjumping track on very tacky ground meant fences down, but they both jumped superbly and then went steady across the country. Both mares finished in the top 20, even with loads of time penalties.
The new stables are taking shape
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
So now we look forward to this weekend at Kelsall, which sees the young horses heading out for the first time this year, as well as my first AI on Purdey. This is combined with our new stables rapidly appearing before us. We are trying to do as much painting alongside the riding and competing as we can. There is a definite open door policy here at Shannon Eventing, but expect to be passed a paint brush on your way in!
I have also received a lovely new belt from local entrepreneur and hunting legend Zoe Gibson this last month. Zoe runs Peachy Belts where you can design your own belt from a fantastic range of leather and lots of different, gorgeous buckles! I have been wearing my new belt with my Tredstep breeches whenever I’ve been competing, and I am thinking I had better order another one soon. It’s brilliant to see a local horsewoman branch out and be successful in a new business venture, and it helps that I just love her stuff.
So now I’m kitted out with all the latest fashions, and the horses are all going brilliantly. As long as we can get all this painting done — as well as fit floors in the new tack and rug rooms — we’re looking at moving in to our new facilities in the next couple of weeks. And once that’s done, we can get to work planning a big opening party!
Lauren
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Event rider Lauren Shannon blogged on Horseandhound.co.uk from June 2011 until September 2014. Born in Brighton, she lived in America from the age of three to 16, returning to the UK to go to university after she finished school. After university she worked for Mark and Tanya Kyle before setting up her own yard in Leicestershire. Her best result to date was finishing 9th at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with her top horse, Zero Flight.
