A LUDLOW teenager is making huge strides in the dressage world after being selected to compete in her first international show.

Harriet Black, who lives just outside the town, alongside her horse named World Dancer or 'Ginge' as he is known at home, represented Great Britain at the Hickstead CDI.

Despite only moving up to the junior classification this year Black, aged 17, was selected by British Dressage for the prestigious event where she competed against athletes from around the world.

Her achievement was made even more remarkable after only competing on World Dancer since February.

Black gained top 10 placings in both the team and individual test on Thursday and Friday, despite nearly 40 degree heat, which qualified her to ride in the freestyle to music on Sunday.

Despite horrendous weather conditions and having never ridden the freestyle to music test before Black and World Dancer scored 69.225% and took fourth place.

Black is currently preparing to study in her final year of A levels, but also aspires to ride internationally again.

"I have been dressage riding since 2012 but the first year doing junior competitions after one year of riding my pony Nemo," said Black.

"Before that I was riding show jumping but had a few bad fall so decided to change to dressage. This year I have been riding the Premier League events in a bid to qualify for the international meetings.

"Most of the Premier League events are three hours away so I spend a lot of time travelling. You have to get a certain score in the Premier League events to ride at the international show. My main aim for the year was to qualify for an international event but I had a set back in June so was surprised to get selected.

"The competition was amazing and the best experience in my life. Riders there were of the highest level but all accommodating and supportive.

"There were competitors from Portugal, Canada and America so It was amazing experience to compete with people from all over the world.

"I would love to compete in Germany before the end of the year before I take my final A-Levels exams and would like to carry on competing."

Black trains with Serena Pinkus at her Sheepcote Equestrian Centre in Bartestree and is also part of the West Midlands Dressage Team.