Biography
The London 2012 Olympics is just one of the ambitions for Irish show jumper Shane Breen. But whereas for most riders, taking part is a pipe dream, for Shane it could be a little more. Most national titles in Ireland already bear his name, he has been a Nations Cup team member and represented his country at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006. On top of that, in 2007 he married into the Bunn family equestrian dynasty and is based at the world famous Hickstead show-ground.
I was born in Limerick, the middle of three children. My father was a bank manager for the Bank of Ireland and my uncle hired out hunters as a sideline to his farming business. I was in the saddle almost before I could walk, and when I was five my father bought me an unbroken pony which I later rode to hounds. Hunting has had a lot to do in honing my riding skills – the family have strong connections with the legendary "black and tans", the Scarteen. I still hunt with them, sometimes as amateur whip, whenever I can, usually with my father and younger brother, Trevor, also a showjumper and currently the reigning Irish national champion.
It was probably the hunting which stood me in good stead when I became only the second show jumper (to Michael Whitaker) to have won the unique Eventing Grand Prix at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, the competition which combines the challenges of both showjumping and eventing.
I already had a European Silver medal to my name, won on ponies at the age of 16 and with seasons as leading pony rider behind him. I have represented Ireland at European Junior and Young Rider level.
I won my first international class at Hickstead in 1994, prophetic perhaps because 13 years later I married Chloe, daughter of Hickstead founder and show jumping legend Douglas Bunn. Chloe and I run the British side of the family business, Breen Equestrian, with 50 stables at my disposal and the year-round use of the all-weather arenas.
Horses had become a family business when I began competing seriously. Now, with the Hickstead facilities literally on my doorstep, Chloe and I are busy developing the English side of the family business. We are building a team of world-class jumping stallions which so far include the Ryan family’s Carmena Z and Royal Concorde. I also supplement my show jumping by training other riders, and amongst my current pupils is Chloe’s niece, Lucy.
Carmena Z took me to victory as the first male winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2008) and Royal Concorde won the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby in the same year, smashing the course record in the process.
Things progressed well during 2009 with a number of successes and in 2010, I won the Grand Prix at Lummen 5* show and jumped double clear on Nations Cup team there. I also went double clear in La Baule (French Super League). I was riding Carmena Z at both shows, and I won the Derby in Aachen riding Dorada.
2011 starting really well, apart from me trying to kill myself falling off a balcony abroad, which really did turn out to be a close call! However, with the support of my family, I recovered well and went on to win the Grand Prix at Windsor in May, once again on Carmena Z. I also won 17 classes in the Atlantic Tour in Comporta in Portugal and the Derby Trial at the Hamburg 5* Derby meeting.
I now have 6 horses capable of jumping at the very top including Camblin, Cos I Can, Carmena Z, Balloon, Warren's Town U2 and Dorado. My aim this year is to be in the top 10 in the world, ride at the European Champs' for Ireland and be as prepared to get selection for the 2012 London Olympics!