Tanya's Profile

Tanya Buckingham is a 23 year old British Event Rider and currently produces, competes and looks after all her own horses. Tanya has 6 horses, 4 of which are competing in horse trials this year. Tanya has produced 3 of her own horses up to advanced level (1 of which is now a brood mare). Tanya’s aim for the other 2 advanced horses is to complete a 3 star this year with the hope of going to Bramham and then Burghley next year (2010). Tanya has a gelding at intermediate level who she hopes will be a real star for the future. There is also a PN horse who is being produced to sell. Tanya’s 6th horse is a 2yr old gelding who will be broken in this winter as he is already 16.2!! Scally is in foal again to an up and coming eventer called Forinth, and the foal is due next May.

Tanya has grown up with horses, despite coming from a family who knew nothing about horses. Tanya started riding at the age of 3 and spent all her spare time at Carol Thompson's yard where she learnt how to ride anything and everything! Tanya was bought her first pony at the age of 9 and despite her only having one speed (fast) had great fun with her. Tanya started being really competitive with her second pony William. Tanya was on all the Pony Club Teams, hunted and did unaffiliated ODEs. Pony Club was a fantastic grounding for learning all disciplines and all stable management skills and was where she first learnt about British Eventing.

When she was 14, Tanya bought Scally as a 4yr old with the view to doing Pony Club Teams on, however she exceeded all expectations by not only doing all Pony Club Teams, but also representing the North at 3 JRN Championships; Great Britain in the 2004 Junior European Championships and then going Advanced. At the age of 16 Tanya was given the chance to buy Scally’s brother Jack and she jumped at the chance! He has been a very difficult horse to produce - he worries a lot and is very accident prone, but with a lot of hard work and time to build up his trust, Tanya has managed to get him to complete his first advanced this year where he went double clear!

Tanya’s other advanced horse Bud, was bought to replace Scally when she was injured, and Tanya was selected to represent GB at the Young Rider Europeans in 2006 on him. Sadly in January 2007 Tanya had a skiing accident and snapped the ACL in her knee and was unable to try for the team again that year. After having an op on her knee in July 2007, Tanya wasn’t able to ride for a year so the horses had two quiet years in 2007 and 2008. 2009 is therefore Tanya’s first real season back Eventing and she is trying to regain all the qualifications which she lost with having the time out of Eventing.

Along side Eventing, Tanya is an active member of British Dressage and BSJA, competing up to Advanced Medium and Foxhunter level. Tanya is still a member of the Zetland Pony Club and this year she passed her A Test. Tanya does a lot of teaching at the Pony Club and tries to help the local riding clubs too.

Achievements

  • Represented North JRN Team 3 times
  • Represented GB at both Young Rider and Junior Europeans
  • 4th at CCI** Puncestown (Jack)
  • 5th at Floors Castle CIC** (Bud)
  • 5th at Burnham Market CIC** (Bud)
  • 1st at Aldon PN 3Day Event (Topic)
  • On short list for European CCI** Team 2009
  • Selected for Northern Foundation Squad 2009
  • Pony Club A Test 2009
  • BHS Stage 3
  • BHS AI
  • One of the first to be selected for TASS funding (Talented Athletes Support Scheme)

Horses

  • Bud - Whats Happening Now - 17hh 14yr old Brown Gelding Advanced Eventer by Cavalier Royale
  • Jack - Dovecote Young Jack - 17hh 12yr old Chestnut Gelding Advanced Eventer by Black Jack
  • Bob - Imperial Flight - 16.2hh 10yr old Brown Gelding Intermediate Eventer by Master Imp
  • Mickey - In Style - 15hh 8yr old Bay Gelding PN Eventer by MR Chips
  • Scally - Dovecote Miss Scally - 15hh 14yr old Chestnut Mare Advanced Eventer / Broodmare
  • Bucky - Sailors Choice - 16.2hh 2yr old Liver Chestnut Gelding by Sailorman