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Pippa Allen

Pippa Allen

Pippa manages to fit in riding several horses each day and competing at the highest level as well as coping with the demands of school. Her typical day involves getting up at 7am and leaving for school by 8, and then riding three or four ponies after school at 4.30pm before doing her homework.

This hard work has paid off as recent successes include victory at Olympia in 2004, plus wins at Horse of the Year Show and Pony of the Year Show in 2005 and successive wins at the Scope/BSJA Festival, including winning the BSJA National Championship. She has also won numerous medals as part of the British team.

Pippa says that her best 128cm pony was Silver Wonder, on whom she took all of the National 128cm titles in 2005. Last year was her last in 128cm classes, when she also had the ride on two other very talented ponies in Stainsby Starburst and Corralass, both of whom are now ridden by Pippa’s sister, Millie. Her best ponies for 2006 are the 138cm Strawberry Fair and 148cm Stainsby Style.

With Pippa’s family running the well-known North East equestrian centre, Stainsby Grange, it was always likely that she and her sister were going to be interested in horses and Pippa cites her Dad, Peter, who has also show jumped to a high level and is on the BSJA Area Committee, as having the greatest influence on her.

Her ambitions are to ride stylishly and correctly and she says, “I would also love to be on the team for the Europeans.” Pippa also says that one of the best things about show jumping is “meeting friends the same age as you who have the same interest” and her advice to anyone wanting to improve their show jumping? “Always listen to criticism, even if you don’t agree all of the time”.

What couldn’t you live without?

Ponies and my friends at shows.

Likes?

Show jumping and music.

Dislikes?

School!

Bad Habits?

Having an untidy bedroom.

If you could have any horse, past or present, who would it be?

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s Shutterfly and CJ Kemosabi.

Who do you admire?

Ellen Whitaker, because she is young and chatty and very good.

Most embarrassing moment?

Going the wrong way around the course at Towerlands after already having jumped round it twice!

Best Moment?

Winning at Horse of the Year Show.