A TALENTED young horse rider has enjoyed the most successful weeks of her riding career by winning two national titles.

After several attempts, Joanne Little, 18, from Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, finally achieved her dream of winning a coveted Pony Club championship.

She proved herself the best of the hundreds of young riders who entered this year's dressage contest by beating her nearest rivals by a 44-point margin at the national championships, which were held at Sansaw Park, near Shrewsbury, in Shropshire.

Joanne was a member of an all-girl Braes of Derwent Pony Club squad which came fifth in the team competition.

The others members of the team were: Laura Britton, from Spennymoor, Sandy Minto, from Billy Row, near Crook, and Naomi New, from Sunderland.

A few days later Joanne took her horse, 17hh Hanoverian Grant Bourne Landslide, to the Sheepgate National Under-21 Championships at Boston, Lincolnshire, and was a winner once more.

Now she is working towards her ambition of being chosen for the national dressage team and ultimately an Olympic place.

Her mother, June, said: "She is very determined. A lot of the work is unseen and requires a lot of stamina and strength for the horse and rider.

"Dressage is probably the hardest riding discipline because the horse's muscles have to be built up before they can work."

Two years ago, Joanne was chosen for an England eventing team in Germany with her pony Decka.

Mrs Little said: "It was a huge step for Joanne to move from a pony to such a huge horse. Now she is aiming for the British dressage team."

Joanne trains with dressage specialist Ian Woodhead, from Grimsby.