Bunnie Sexton (born Bunnie Shepherd) grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley where her family raised Morgan horses and Angus cattle. Bunnie’s first pony was a Welsh Morgan cross who would jump the moon, and together they competed in the pony hunters, pony jumpers, and medal classes throughout California. They also foxhunted, and every summer would travel to the family’s property in British Columbia where they would go to the county fairs and compete in western events and gymkhana as well as the hunter/jumper classes. As a teenager, Bunnie graduated to an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred who became her primary competition horse, competing in the show hunters and dressage. It was through Pony Club that Bunnie discovered and fell in love with the sport of Eventing.
Once she had been bitten by the bug, there was no turning back! After graduating Pony Club with an “H-A” rating, she decided that riding every horse she possibly could and teaching others how to ride was to be her career. In 1990, Bunnie Shepherd became Bunnie Shepherd Sexton. Through the 1990’s, Bunnie trained and competed several Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds, winning zone championships on horses such as On Impulse, Don William, and Hark. The last year that she competed with Don William he won Intermediate Horse of the Year, and his stablemate was Preliminary Horse of the Year. Bunnie also earned us the title of California Leading Rider. As Bunnie’s family grew, she curtailed her upper level riding. She spent her time producing horses from the lower levels up through the one-star level before passing the rides along to her Pony Club Students, or her children!
Now that her four children are out in the world, Bunnie has had the opportunity to get back into the upper levels of Eventing. Since turning 50, she has completed her first CCI3* and her first CCI4* at the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and she hasn’t looked back!
Bunnie is passionate about eventing, teaching, and training horses to love their jobs. At Shepherd Ranch Eventing, emphasis is on enjoying the process, because the results will follow!
Career Highlights
3rd Place, Fresno County Horse Park Intermediate, April 20193rd Place, Copper Meadows Intermediate, March 2019
2nd Place, Fresno County Horse Park Preliminary, October 2018
3rd Place, Woodside International CIC3*, October 2017
4th Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CIC3*, July 2017
2nd Place, Copper Meadows Advanced, March 2017
3rd Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CIC3*, July 2016
39th Place, Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*, April 2016
2nd Place, Copper Meadows Advanced, March 2016
2nd Place, Twin Rivers CIC3*, March 2016
11th Place, Galway Downs CCI3*, October 2015
2nd Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, September 2015
3rd Place, Copper Meadows CIC3*, September 2015
7th Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI3*, July 2015
24th Place, Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*, April 2015
6th Place, Galway Downs International CIC3*, March 2015
9th Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, February 2015
1st Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, September 2014
8th Place, The Event at Rebecca Farm CIC3*, July 2014
3rd Place, Copper Meadows Advanced, June 2014
5th Place, Galway Downs International CCI3*, October 2013
6th Place, Woodside International CIC3*, October 2013
6th Place, Bromont Canada CCI3*, June 2013
9th Place, Galway Downs International CIC3*, March 2013
4th Place, Copper Meadows Advanced, March 2013
5th Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, March 2013
4th Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, September 2012
2nd Place, Woodside International Advanced, August 2012
1st Place, Twin Rivers Advanced, April 2012
6th Place, Galway Downs Advanced, March 2012
Numerous wins at the Intermediate level aboard Don William
Leading California Rider
Numerous wins at the Advanced and Intermediate level aboard Hark
Year-End Awards aboard both Don William and Hark for Training-Intermediate level
Trainer and Rider of Careless Remark, the five-time Area VI Leading Appaloosa