Lionel Dunning- anyone heard of him?

He is 70 ?
frown.gif
OMG that makes me feel so old. I remember Jungle Bunny well, don't know much about Lionel now but was certainly very successful in his day.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Lionel Dunning and his wife Pam wrote a book called Riding School must be nearly 20 years ago and it was really good, it was the only book I used as my bible at that time. I think his son Ben still competes.

Definately worth a lesson or going to watch, the horse Jungle Bunny was an absolute star.

Good Luck

[/ QUOTE ]

I've got that book! practically falling apart where I used to read it so much!
 
No Lionel Dunnings son is Robert. I vaguely remember him wanting to join the fire brigade. Ben Dunning is at Tony Newbury's as his mother married him. Nothing to do with Lionel!
 
I had that book when I was 8, Dressage diva. I read it over and over. Gosh I feel quite old now!!!....runs off to scout out the book....
 
[ QUOTE ]
He used to live in a village near me - Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire - don't know if he's still there.



[/ QUOTE ]
Brant Broughton is up the road from me too. Lionel doesn't live there anymore but his wife Pam does. Until very recently she ran the post office. Now it's been closed and she and another lady run a shop selling flowers/gifts/tea shop etc.

[ QUOTE ]
He's very good mates with the (ex) vet Robert Morris - quite a few stories there I believe......!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes !!!!! Mrs Morris is the Joint Master (I think) of the local hunt (Blankney) who my daughter goes out with.
 
As people have said Lionel Dunning was one of the top riders when I was a kid. He had books, he had saddles namned after him as well. To have a lesson with this man would be a priviledge, he's forgoten more than most riders will ever know. His main horse Jungle Bunny was fantastic, every time he finished a round of jumping, as he crossed the line he'd throw in a massive buck. This was regular as clockwork. You may find that this £30 is some of the best money you will have ever spent.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I went there as a working pupil many years ago. Lets just say what went on then would never happen now. The stories i could tell....................

Ben Dunning is not his son, Lionels son no longer competes. Hasn't for a long time.

[/ QUOTE ]

No,Robert is Lionel and Pam's son,he used to ride ponies and maybe juniors on horses.He hacked quite regularly to school on his pony,I remember.
shocked.gif

When were you there kp31?
Did you dry your clothes on the wooden beams and light your cigarettes on the gas fires?
grin.gif
blush.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have his autobiography - 'Dead Lucky'. It's full of great 'behind the scenes' anecdotes!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I saw that book on Amazon today and wondered if it was an autobiography. I might give it go if you recommend.
 
Blimey, I used to have lessons off him when I was 17 and I'm 42 now !!
He was good fun then and I learnt a lot. I bought a smashing 5 year old off him too which went to a Grade B in one season with even a numpty rider like me on it !!
Let us kniow how you get on.
 
Yes Robert is Lionel and Pam's son.

I was there 14 years ago, it was an experience i try to forget to be honest! Clothes were hung on wooden beams and those that smoked did light there cigarettes on the gas fire!!!!!!
 
If it is the same person I think it is then I jumped off against him several times on a pony call Bill Williams I cannot remember the name of the pony he was on but it looked like a small race horse agaist my Billy, I was riding for George & wally Hobbs at the time.
Stella
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He used to live in a village near me - Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire - don't know if he's still there.
Yes - Lionel Dunning (70) has returned to Brant Broughton after 4 years in Hong Kong the officially line being 'due to the economic climate'. Rumour has it his oriental mistress (half his age) has kicked him in to touch.Whilst still an excellent trainer he has an eye for the ladies (lock up your daughters!)and is chasing a local trainer despite still being married!
Robert is his son & Pam his wife both no longer ride.
 
Thanks for the update! Pam was a fine rider in the 1970s and 80s, both of SJ and point-to-point horses. Much the same age as Lionel, so not too surprising that she's no longer riding. Robert was "a bit of a character" but not the best of riders.
 
Did Jungle bunny used to race at some point? the only reason I ask is our local EC and tourist attraction had a black tb called Jungle bunny retired there I always thought of it as a racehorse but maybe there where 2 horses called that doing different things?
It was years ago that it was there though.
Very sorry to hijack, but the training sounds like the way to go with what people have said, I'm a bit young to remember LD but I have heard him mentioned.
 
Smashing horse - knew he was retired on the IoW but I just can't remember whether he did ever race. He was Lionel's best-ever horse, not apparantly an easy youngster, but it was him who brought Lionel back to SJ after a terrible freak fall (from a big grey youngster called Union Jack) at the Greater London Horse Show (on Clapham Common). Only SJ one I've seen when the rider needed lifesaving respiratory aid before being taken off in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. Lionel was I think the first rider to make use of a cap with a safety harness long before they were made compulsory.
 
Yes I remember watching him when showjumping was still shown on 'normal' TV and I loved Jungle Bunny, my question is, does anyone know how he was breed?
 
ben dunning is not lionel'sson...his son is robert.

and yes i have the book ''rding school'' aswell
smile.gif
super book!! im going to some of his clinics at elms farm ec, lincoln in the next few months
laugh.gif
he is a fantastic rider and sjer and has some great knowledge to pass on!

didnt realise he was 70 tho!! i thought he was like 60...lol xx
 
One of my friends and I used to have lessons with him a good few years ago.

I will always remenber one day my friends horse decided to stop at a fence Lionel told her to "come again" and as she came up to the fence Lionel threw his hat at the horses bum!

Said horse lashed out and very nearly took his head off. - oh and it still didn't jump the fence!
 
Lionel was my first proper show jumping trainer - he is really great! He really got me going with competing and my confidence improved so much. I think you should give it a shot!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Lionel Dunning and his wife Pam wrote a book called Riding School must be nearly 20 years ago and it was really good, it was the only book I used as my bible at that time. I think his son Ben still competes.

Definately worth a lesson or going to watch, the horse Jungle Bunny was an absolute star.

Good Luck

[/ QUOTE ]

I've got that book! practically falling apart where I used to read it so much!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have that book too!

So whats the gossip on him, Did he split up from his wife?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top