A COLOURED horse belonging to a County Durham owner is continuing to make an early impact in the show ring.

Riverdance, owned and produced by Anke Robinbson of Headlam, near Darlington, has made an excellent start to the season after a successful debut season last year.

The Friesian cross Hanoverian cross Thoroughbred won 90pc of his classes and took about ten championships in 2004, the highlight coming in December when he won the best coloured non-native horse of Great Britain title at the Royal London Show.

This year, Riverdance won the non-native horse section and was reserve champion at the Coloured Horse and Pony Society winter championships in Solihull.

He went on to qualify for the CHAPS summer championships, the British Skewbald and Piebald Association championships, Ponies UK championships, the Ultimate Showcase championships and the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

He also took the recent BSPA Star of the North ridden championship at Bishop Burton and is now being aimed at Horse of the Year Show qualifiers.

His owner, who is proprietor of Mowden Launderette in Darlington, said: "Riverdance is rising six and was broken by myself a year last October.

"I bought him from Ireland as a three-year-old and he was very difficult to break, especially as I am on my own. He can be a bit naughty, but he loves the show ring and I'm very proud of him."