All About You All about You Lauren Baker


21 year old Lauren Baker works as a business development leader for a company called Green Lighting, in Worcester. The pony she had wanted since the moment she set eyes on him, Tireinon Defender (Scooby), finally became hers in 2016. Since then, the pair have had an unreal year together, and Lauren believes that this is just the start…


“I started horse riding when I was four years old and haven’t been able to give up since. I started showing around the age of 10 at local level and I have only just started at county level in the past year or so with Scooby.


“We knew Scooby as a youngster as he was purchased from the cob sales by somebody we knew. He was a beautiful youngster and we fell in love with him then. We then lost track of him when he was sold, until the beginning of 2016 when I saw a lovely D mare for sale. Unfortunately, she was sold before we could get to go and see her, but then I was made aware that they may be selling another D. That was Scooby. It really was fate, the pony I always wanted was finally mine. He is kept with Steph Peto in Chester and he really enjoys that way of life.


He loves going to shows on a big lorry with lots of ponies and loves the fact Steph is always on the yard to cater for his every need.


“He is rising nine this year and we feel the best is yet to come with him. I’ve never ridden a pony that loves to show as much as Scooby does. He has made all of my dreams come true, including qualifying for HOYS last year and qualifying for Royal International this year. He really is a one in a million pony.”


Small in size for a Welsh section D, Scooby has generate a lot of discussion due to his height, having been remeasured from a section C to a D. Scooby stands at 138cm, while the upper height limit for a section C is 137.2cm, and Lauren has received comments from judges in section D classes due to his ‘lack of height’, some suggesting that ‘he’d make an amazing C’. Although perhaps lacking in a little height, Scooby is true to type and a beautiful mover. Admired by many, he consistently achieves conformation marks between 42 and 46. Their show ring success has been huge and a few of their many highlights in the short time they have been together include:


Send your letters, news, photos, and comments either via email to rebeccaphilpot@redpin.co.uk or post to the address on page three for your chance to be featured on this page.


We feel the best is yet to come with him, Lauren says about ‘Scooby’


 Reserve champion and winner of the Junior Rider Mixed Breed class at BSPS Winter Championships


 First, second and third in his only 2016 HOYS qualifiers


 Ringside champion at NPS Summer Championships


 Fourth in his first 2017 HOYS qualifier, only two marks away from the golden ticket


Lauren has an exciting youngster project for next year, Newgap Just Jack


 Qualifying for Royal International 2017 on his third attempt.


“Our plans for this year


are to hopefully qualify for Horse of the Year Show again and it would be another dream come true to go and visit Santa at Olympia.


“I currently also have a very


exciting youngster project that will be out and about early next year, so watch this space!


“His name is Newgap Just Jack and he is a three year old Welsh section C. He will


be broken in this year, to start his novice season in 2018.”


4 | The Native Pony | ISSUE 113 MAY 2017 | Telephone 01380 734374


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