L3 Sporthorses is a family friendly boutique Dressage and Eventing barn.
Shannon Allen, the head instructor and trainer, has a background in dressage, eventing, hunters, jumpers as well as cutting.
She was mentored by Jenna McGowan Terry of Full Stride Equestrian where she worked under her as an assistant trainer learning proper dressage training methods by the classical training scale. While there she competed in recognized USDF/USEF/USEA events, rehabbed sports injuries, tackled problem horses, started horses under saddle, and instructed many riders. She specializes in instructing in neurodivergent riders, and those with anxiety that want to be empowered in their education.
Shannon pushed for USPC curriculum to be added to the lesson program. In April 2022 Full Stride Equestrian opened up as a USPC licensed riding academy, the first in the Burleson, Tx area. Shannon and her colleague, Adelee Dyrssen, successfully ran the USPC lesson program until finally parting ways to pursue more career opportunities. Shannon has successfully trained reliable lesson horse schoolmasters up through USDF third level.
She is currently finishing out scores to receive her USDF Bronze medal, and she intends to continue for her silver and gold after receiving her Bronze medal. Her main competition horse "She Gets To You" had to step away from showing to rehabilitate after being diagnosed with kissing spine in 2021. Lizzie(Barn name) has succesfully since rehabbed. During her show horse's recovery, Shannon spent her time educating herself and attending learning seminars as well as worked alongside veterinarians to learn sporthorse rehabilitation. She then rehabbed multiple horses successfully through the program during her apprenticeship at Full Stride.
Shannon is currently attending university to receive her USDF "L" graduate while on her showing hiatus. She finds their program to be valuable and encourages all students to seek their learning opportunities.
She has decided to open up her own small program to allow her to spend more time with her 3 boys Stratton, Stetson, and Tulson. When she's not juggling motherhood, she enjoys teaching. and sharing horses with others. Her mission with L3 Sporthorses is to continue sharing the education she had received with her community, build a better equine foundation locally, and make horses accessible to more upcoming riders before sending them on their way.