HOARWITHY rider Alice Hurley has a new challenge on her plate this year.

The 19-year-old, who gained international recognition riding Solitaire's Secret in 2006, is for the first time developing her own horse, the four-year-old Hanoverian chestnut mare Woodlander Frangelica, stable name Fran'.

And the pair, who only teamed up earlier this year, have wasted no time in getting their first competition wins.

In their very first competition at Bromyard Equestrian Centre, the pairing recorded a score of 74.48 to take first place in the Novice 22 competition.

They then moved on to the Lime Tree Dressage Centre in Chippenham where a score of 73.44 was enough to carry off the Novice 33 class.

The successes mean that the pair have plenty more action to look forward to later in the summer.

Their wins have qualified them for the novice championships at the British Dressage Regional Championships at the beginning of August.

They have also qualified for the Under-21 UK Summer Championships at Addington in Buckinghamshire and the British Young Riders Dressage Championship at Sheepgate in Lincolnshire.

Hurley is currently spending a gap year working at Lynn and David Crowden's Wood-lander Stud, near Hay, before taking up a place to read equine science at Hartpury College in the autumn.