Recommendations

Garfield and Sally

Have you ever known the frustration, disappointment and heartache of looking for a new horse, the miles clocked up traipsing around the country to view animals that no way near resemble their advertisement? I was nearing desperation when a friend allerted me to a horse on Ryans website. Not only did this horse live up to the discription he well surpassed it. Although my riding leaves a lot to be desired, Ryan was so encouraging and supportive and even let me go out for a little hack. He also greatly helped me with arranging the vetting and transport.

I have now had Garfield for just over three months and he has not put a hoof wrong. He's a joy to handle, hacks out alone or in company and very willing in lessons. With the help of a great trainer we are going from strength to strength. I cannot recommend Ryan highly enough, nor thank him for the wonderful horse he produced and for the pleasure that Garfield brings me.

B.Babe

I first saw B.Babe's advert in H&H on a Thursday and called straight away. I spoke to Ryan and he was very honest about her, described her well and advised me to go to his website to veiw a short video. I did this, phoned back and had her vetted the following day. Ryan assisted me in finding a local vet and made him self available for the vetting when ever I wanted it to happen. Ryan then arranged for her to be transported to me in the south east. I hadn't at any point seen the mare but felt I could trust Ryan and he was always on the phone if I had any questions.

18 months on B. Babe has qaulified for major young horse finals and also Regional championships and as a professional dressage rider I would highly recommend Ryan to anyone.

Baldino

I am the lucky owner of a fantastically talented and quite brilliant young KWPN all thanks to Ryan!

In 2009 I was looking for a young dressage horse to take all the way to GP. I had seen quite a few that I liked but none had really grabbed me, and many were well out of my price range. On seeing Ryan’s website (Shannon Equestrian) I noticed several nice young horses but one stood out to me as if he was covered in neon lights! Baldino was a 3 year old unbacked KWPN by a stallion I liked and with a dam sire that has produced fabulous dressage horses. I was prepared to buy him on the video alone as I had never seen something so naturally uphill in all its gates and with an engine to die for.

However, I persuaded my trainer to come along for a 5 hour drive to see him and we were not disappointed. He had such a lovely intelligent face and when Ryan brought him out I could have hugged him! Baldino was stunning and what’s more had the most perfect conformation and I honestly thought there had to be a catch. My trainer could not contain her excitement after Ryan loose schooled him and turned to me and said “if you don’t buy him I will” so very quickly I agreed with Ryan a price and organised to have him vetted in the next couple of days. Ryan suggested several vets and transport companies to me and the two I used were very professional. Baldino arrived home with a lovely new travel rug, headcollar and lead rope, none of which I had been expecting so thank you Ryan.

I have had him almost two years now and we backed him just over a year ago. He has been exactly as Ryan described him, a horse with great future prospects, 3 super paces, a wonderful temperament and above all else the most trainable and trusting horse I have ever had. He has been a pleasure to do and has taken everything in his stride. His dressage career has started very well, so far winning most of his classes with scores of 9 for his paces and percentages in the 70’s and he recently qualified for the Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future 2011 final held in July so we are very excited. He is also very close to qualifying for this year’s summer regional’s so I’m hoping to achieve our last qualifying score in the next few outings. I have been lucky enough to have several top riders/trainers see him (and a few ride him!) and every single one has told me he is a serious horse for the future, only a few weeks ago a list 1 judge told me he could win the world cup!! But thankfully that’s a way off yet!

My trainer has since used Ryan to find another young horse for a client based on the fabulous experience I had. Throughout the time I have owned Baldino Ryan has always been supportive and interested in what he’s up to and how he’s doing and I expect that Ryan and I will have a lot to talk about over the coming years...... Thank you Ryan x

Bocelli

I wanted to write a testimonial for Ryans web site as i really cannot express how eternally grateful i am to Ryan for finding me the most wonderful horse i have ever owned.

Bocelli is a four year old dutch warmblood that Ryan brought over from Holland he is everything Ryan said he was and more!!

Never does a day go by that Bocelli doesn't make me smile, he has a great character and the biggest heart, his attitude and willingness to learn is amazing and i could have sold him a hundred times over as everyone admires and loves him. I can honestly say that i never thought i would find a horse that would bring me so much pleasure.

Ryan obviously has a great ability to pick and produce the best of horses , he is honest and professional in all ways and i would highly recommend him to anyone.

I often keep in touch with Ryan giving him updates on Bocelli and he is always genuinely pleased and interested to hear all about him.

So all i can say is thankyou Ryan.

Karen

Rico- Broken in, in only 3 weeks

When Rico had turned 3 I sent him away to be backed as he was a big lad and I wanted to get him done as soon as he turned 3. Rico had been great to handle on the ground and was a star to Lunge and accepted his equipment without bother. However when I sent him away to a lady in Cheshire to be backed she was having real problems when it came to him having a rider on as he wouldn’t accept it and kept trying to chuck her off. When I had heard the news I was distraught as I felt that I would never get to ride my youngster.

However I looked in the Equitrader and rang a few people up one of which was Ryan. After speaking with Ryan we arranged a visit to talk through Rico’s issues, from as soon as I met Ryan I knew he was the one to do the job.

From the moment we arrived at the yard Ryan was easy to talk to about his horse and very honest about their ridability and temperament. He tacked up Koko in front of us and then rode her in a very windy outdoor school.

When Rico arrived at Ryan’s in July 2009 he settled in straight away as the environment was fantastic as every horse was settled and happy. When I went down to see Rico to check he was ok and to see how his 1st day went with Ryan. Ryan had told me had had been sat on Rico and he wasn’t any trouble at all. I couldn’t believe it his 1st day there and Ryan was already on him walking round the yard, I was so happy as it made me realise that I was getting closer and closer to riding him. After a couple of weeks went by Ryan was Trotting, Cantering & Jumping Rico in the Indoor & Outdoor arenas at one point he had Rico doing Flying Changes!!

Once I got Rico home, Ryan came down the 1st couple of days to help me settle Rico back in and to give me some help and advice on to what I should do with him and that I could always call upon him if I had any problems. Therefore I would HIGHLY recommend Ryan for breaking any youngster or even a youngster that may have an issue with backing like Rico did, as Ryan is not only good at what he does but he is great support afterwards

Now that Rico is a 4 yr old and has only been backed under 12months he has been out winning many Dressage & Jumping Competitions and is attending regular training clinics with many other horses with the Riding Clubs and hasn’t batted an eye lid at anything.

Ryan I can’t Thank You enough!

Stacey Jones

Andretti V - sold February 2009

We went to look at Koko on the 24th of February when I finally realised that my current horse physically could not withstand the training to become and event horse.

As we live in Hampshire we had to be sure that this horse would be worth it and the video of Koko schooling over a small course convinced us to make the long trip to Cheshire.

From the moment we arrived at the yard Ryan was easy to talk to about his horse and very honest about their ridability and temperament. He tacked up Koko in front of us and then rode her in a very windy outdoor school.

Koko behaved in a way well beyond her years and still does now. Although this could just be put down to temperament I think that Ryan plays a huge part in the attitude of all of the horses he has, as he is one of the quietest but firm riders you could ever wish to see. He is a wonderful rider, handler and producer of youngsters and the results are there to be seen in all his horses.

Koko is now four and it has only been uphill from when I bought her. She is one of the most level headed youngsters I have ever ridden and takes everything in her stride. We are currently aiming her for some small one-day events and age classes including Burghley young event horse. I am so pleased that we bought her from you Ryan and she was definitely worth the long trip and will be definitely coming back for more!

Wodessa - sold January 2008

"Hi I just want to let everyone know how great the horses are at shannon equestrian. I had been looking for my ideal horse for ages and had travelled almost everywhere but when I turned up I was always disappointed by what I found, they either were in terrible condition or had splints or were advertised as totally safe and turned out to be lunatics!

I then came across wodessa on horsemart, she was a bit out of my price limit but I thought if I pay a bit more I will get the best! Wodessa has turned out to be the most fantastic horse I have ever had and well worth every penny and more.

I came to look at her twice and never felt pushed into buying her by ryan at all. I am now in process of getting someone to help me produce her for horse of the year show! I am in regular contact with the lady who owns her sire the world famous stallion lauriston I will keep wodessa for life and hopefully let her have a foal who hopefully will turn out like her.

The best temprement you will ever see in a horse who even has no objections to a 3 year old girl handling her. thanks ryan if it wasnt for you I would still be looking!

Vicky Norris

Wouter - Now re-named 'Rocky' - sold January 2008

"We purchased Rocky January 2008 and really have not looked back since.He has had a very steep learning curve but a true warmblood takes everthing in his stride and there is not very much that upsets him. Within two weeks we had him at a local ODE not to compete, just to soak up the atmosphere. That he did and is about the only time I have seen him on his toes!!!

Fiona started flat work training and before very long he was working in a correct outline and trotting between poles needless to say we took him to his first dressage which was a trial blazzer. He came third that very first day and qualified for the second round. We then did more dressage unaffiliated and he won his first class with 68%. It was time to affiliate which we did only last month. He came second in the prelim class with a score of 70% and third in the novice with a score of 65.50%. There is so much scope in his dressage and there should be with his pedigree.

We then decided to improve his jumping ability and we knew he could jump as only after having him one week he decided to jump a five bar gate from a stand still as he did not want to be in the field by himself!! He is now jumping 1.05 with ease. We have taken him to 3 Burghley young event classes and in the last one he went forward to the final 10.

We have a ODE booked in for the end of August over a BE course and after this he will be doing Intro classes at BE level. So as you can see he has come on a long way and we are so very glad we brought him from you."

Nicky & Fiona