A little bit about me, Sienna Myson-Davies I am 20 years old and I have had a great passion for riding ever since I can remember. We used to live in London and whenever I had a chance I would insist on going riding in Richmond Park on a gorgeous little riding school pony called Tommy. I grew more and more fond of the sport, so when I was eight we moved to Surrey to allow me to pursue my riding ambitions.



A short time after we moved we found my first competition pony, Sandleas Midnight Dancer (aka Midi). Riding her taught me a great deal, she regularly bolted off with me, as she knew I wasn’t strong enough to hold her. Although she was great at dressage and working hunter, her cross country let her down, as almost every time we approached a ditched fence she would do her best to drop me in it. I was more often found in the ditch with Midi standing innocently next to it than sailing over it. This was all good for me though and I got lots of ditch jumping practice.



I was still very keen on pure dressage, but I had always loved the thrill of cross-country. After watching Badminton one year, it dawned on me that eventing would be a great way forward. This was when my passion for the sport really rocketed and I began to make plans and decisions about my riding future.

My next horse was an extremely talented event pony called Welton Jazz. I got him when I was 12 and had never evented before. Together we excelled and at the age of 14 I had secured my place on the British Pony Eventing Squad to represent Great Britain in Saumur, France at the FEI European Championships. Jazz and I won a team Bronze medal. This achievement gave me even more motivation to strive and work even harder in order to be a top event rider.

As I looked towards my 14th birthday I knew I had to find a horse to continue competing. I then found 5 year old Tambourine (aka Tambo), he was very immature in terms of his training, but his potential shone through and we just seemed to click. With his cheeky quirks, brave attitude and super paces I knew he would turn out to be something special.

I took him steadily through the grades, starting with Pre Novice. We then went on to compete successfully in junior classes with some great results in 2007, finish the year as the Junior National Champion. !

When 2008 arrived, I knew it was our chance to shine and with the Junior Europeans in mind, we competed in the junior team trials, some Intermediates and two International one star competitions. Due to our performances at these shows we were selected to represent Great Britain in the Junior European Championships, which were held in Thirlestane Castle, Scotland. This was fantastic for me and Team Great Britain as a whole. Tambo and I won the individual gold medal and with the team we also won a gold. Never in my wildest dreams would I have dared to imagine that I would return from the European Championships with two gold medals.

At the end of 2008 the British Eventing Association awarded me the Hubert Allfrey Trophy at the British Eventing Ball and I have just been re-selected for the prestigious World Class Development Programme.

I worked hard in 2009 and enjoyed some great results, including a first at Knaptoft OIU21, a second at Catton Park. I was selected again for the European Championships, but sadly due to injury didn't get to go.

Well we have had a bit of a turbulent time over the last few months! We were selected to represent Great Britain again at the European Junior Championships after a successful summer of competition, but sadly poor Tambo was injured and we were unable to compete. I still got to go along and support the others but it felt strange to be on the sidelines rather than in the thick of it with the others.

A vet scan revealed that Tambo had sustained a tendon injury, which had happened in the field.

After 15 months of rest Tambourine is now back in full work, and going brilliantly. He will be back eventing again next Spring and I can’t wait. Meanwhile I intend to compete at various dressage and show jumping shows during the winter.

Running alongside Tambo next season will be my new horse DHI Zancorgino aka Rocco. He had a very ‘on and off’ season  last year with back problems, but hopefully will be back on top form for 2012.