No horsing around for '¨top rider Jessica

Jessica Szacsky with horse Carlos after recently winning the under 21's UK Winter Champions Prelim Open

Although she was five years below the entry age, Jessica Wright romped home to become the junior champion of the open prelim class.

And Jess has a bit of an alter ego in the sport, using her dad’s last name Szacsky, something her mum Debbie says helps her stand out and be noticed.

“It’s an unusual name,” she said. “If she used Wright, people might not remember her, but when you say Szacsky, everyone knows exactly who you’re talking about.”

The Ribchester teenager attends St Cecilias RC High School but had to travel the three and a half hours to Bury Farm Equestrian Centre in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire.

After riding twice, she triumphed out of 30 competitors and was presented with a medal, a sash and rug for her horse, 15-year-old Carlos.

And Debbie says she’s very proud of her daughter and hopes it will lead to bigger and better things.

“Considering she hasn’t been doing it for long it’s a fantastic achievement,” she said. “She performed really well on the day and she’ll now go on to other events.”

Jessica is now training at Country Farm Stud Ltd, in Out Rawcliffe, in preparation for more competitions this year.