Nine-year-old Poppy Dorise from Ocle Pychard is taking the show jumping world by storm, winning not one, but two, tickets to compete at this year's Horse of the Year Show in October.

"It's every child's dream to get a ticket," says Poppy's dad, Ryan Dorise.

Walking the course beforehand, Poppy could not see over the fences she would later jump to beat riders up to five years older than she is.

Poppy, who goes to Hereford Cathedral Junior School, won her first ticket in the 138cm Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Blue Chip Newcomer qualifier at Arena UK on Sunday, May 21 on board 20-year-old Lissduff Royal.

“She’s tiny, more like the size of a seven-year-old,” says Ryan. “Her legs barely come past the saddle flaps!

"Pops has been riding since before she could walk," he added. "And she's been show jumping since she was about six."

Poppy's older sister Evie led the way, and is herself a good show jumper, but her ambition is to become an equine vet. Poppy, however, wants to be a showjumper – she loves speed, high jumps and she's extremely competitive," says Ryan. The girls' older brother Finley, however, has little interest in horses, and while working for his A levels, is considering pursuing a career in business or flying.

If winning one ticket to the Horse of the Year Show wasn't enough, Poppy then repeated her success a week later in the 148cm (for riders up to 16 years old) on Running in Heels.

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"It's pretty massive," says Ryan, who explains that Poppy only got the ride on Running in Heels (Cally) because Tabitha Kyle, who with her mum Tanya, trains Poppy, was away with Team GB.

"On paper, she should not be in the class! But Tanya and Tabitha thought it would be good experience for her. The pony is phenomenal."

“When Tabitha told me I would be jumping at South View as she was competing for the British team in Holland, I was so excited," said Poppy. "The first and second rounds felt amazing and I was confident going into round three,” she added. “Tabitha was phoning me with instructions for the jump-off and. Cally is a big jumper with plenty of scope and stride but I still can’t believe I won by six seconds.

"It’s unbelievable, I’ve qualified two ponies for Horse of the Year Show,” said a delighted Poppy.