E08: Go Eventing with Hazel Shannon, presented by Sentinel Horse Feed

“Where Eventing Lives”

Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we explore what it means to build an eventing career far from the sport’s traditional strongholds. From the challenges of limited resources to the excitement of a home Olympic Games on the horizon, this conversation dives into the heart of what keeps riders pushing forward in a changing sport — and how community, resilience, and long-term thinking continue to shape the landscape.

This episode is brought to you with support from our title sponsor, Sentinel Horse Feed.

🔎What’s Inside Episode 8?

Host Sally Spickard is joined by Australian 5* rider Hazel Shannon, now four-time winner of the 2025 Australian International Three-Day Event 5* at Adelaide and a standout presence in her country’s eventing scene. Hazel shares her unique journey, including the evolution of her partnership with her beloved partner WillingaPark Clifford, navigating major changes in her professional life, and the cultural differences that shape eventing across hemispheres. Whether you're riding at home or chasing big dreams across the globe, this episode is a reminder that the path to success isn’t always linear — and that sometimes the most powerful growth comes from the quietest grit.

🔥 In This Episode, We Cover...

• 04:20 - News & Notes: Bicton Review & Looking Forward to Bramham, Bromont, Melbourne, & Luhmühlen

Sally reviews the recent Nations Cup CCIO4* at Bicton — where Laura Collett and London 52 secured their historic three-peat victory and the US Eventing Team brought home a second-place finish — previews the extensive entry list for the Luhmühlen 5*, and discusses upcoming 4* events Bramham, Bromont, and the Melbourne International Three-Day.

[Watch Luhmühlen with 15% off a Horse & Country membership: "EVENTINGNATION15"]

• 21:45 - One Big Thing: WillingaPark Clifford & the Australian Eventing Scene

Sally and Hazel dive into the unique realities of eventing in Australia — from the sheer logistics of traveling across a continent the size of the US, to the growing importance of community, innovation, and long-term vision as the nation prepares for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. They discuss the role of Thoroughbreds in Aussie eventing, how Hazel navigated a major shift in her career after parting ways with her longtime coach, and why a long-term mindset matters more than ever in modern sport. 

• 01:07:55 - You Ask, We Answer: American Food & Outside the Barn

Sally prompts Hazel to further discuss Aussie riders' apparent horrified relationship with American coffee, event venues in America and bucket-list competitions for the 5* champion, as well as the age-old question about life outside the barn — if there is such a thing.

[Submit your question for our co-hosts here]

• 01:15:32 - Finish Flags

Join us next time at Go Eventing when we sit down with performance coach Natalie Hummel — it's going to be one you won't want to miss!

🎧 Listen Now & Join the Conversation!

Got thoughts on today’s episode? Send us your questions, stories, and feedback — we want to hear from you! Find us on Instagram and Facebook @goeventing or email us at podcast@eventingnation.com.

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