A YOUNG girl is riding high after qualifying for the Royal International Horse Show.

Helen Smallwood, from Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton, Teesside, qualified to jump at the prestigious event at Hickstead, West Sussex, riding pony Metric, only a week after her eighth birthday.

The two got through to the show following clear rounds at the Royal Leisure Show Jumping Centre, at Brighton, recently.

Helen's mother Kate said: "We are delighted with this result. As Helen has only been riding Metric since October, we really didn't expect her to qualify this year and were only jumping the qualifiers for experience.''