Lauren Shannon’s eventing blog: flying off for Christmas
I’m writing my blog this week from somewhere very different to normal, the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport! After a busy past couple of weeks, it’s time to go back to the States (where I grew up) for my first Christmas there in 5 years.
The horses are now enjoying a break for the next 10 days. They deserve it too, after dressage lessons without any bucking and a dressage outing last weekend where Holly (Riffala Du Buisson) wowed us all by winning her class on 73%!
I brought the horses into work fairly quickly after their 3-day events this autumn, precisely so they could unwind a bit over Christmas. They all look great, but a little time in the field to chill out and act like horses will do them the world of good.
I have to say, they are going to love being out in the field after my partner Tom’s first foray into horse ownership arrived. Tom has always been supportive of what I do, but I have to say even I was shocked when he expressed interest in being an owner! Little did I know he wanted to enter into this at a smaller level than expected…
Scrumpy, who stands roughly 8hh (pictured above), has come from Karen Perry who runs www.cuddlyponyparty.co.uk near Melton Mowbray, which means that he is impeccably behaved considering he is only 2!
Right now he is settling into life at the yard, but eventually he can be an entry level pony for new kids coming for lessons. In the meantime, he is busy wasting all our time and putting a smile on everyone’s face for Christmas!
All this means I’m slightly sad to be leaving, but I’m sure I’ll have a great time in Utah, and will find plenty of horses to play with out there! Best go board this flight…
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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.