MALVERN'S international dressage rider Kate Cowell competes in the British Dressage Winter Championships at Hartpury which starts today.

Cowell previously continued her winning run in the Inter II at Myerscough, Lancashire, with promising 11-year-old chestnut gelding Samba Dancer, owned by Chris Richards and Audrey Lawrence.

She said: "I’m absolutely thrilled with the result. It's only his second outing at this level having only competed once at a local show.

"He’s definitely one to watch and I’m looking forward to exciting things ahead."

Two of Cowell’s rising equestrian stars are competing at Hartpury.

Sirocco, owned by Helen Illes, is in the Intermediare 1 and if he goes well will compete with music on the Saturday evening.

Eight-year-old Dramatic Conquest, owned by Trish Andrews, recently won the Advanced Medium to Music Myerscough Winter Regionals with 73 per cent and will compete in the Advanced to Music on Sunday.

Cowell first stepped into the saddle aged four with her diminutive partner Tammy.

She said: “My mum was an eventer who qualified for Badminton so it's in the genes. I loved Pony Club and was pretty competitive from a young age.”

Her first love was eventing but she turned to dressage at 15 with Westwell Jem and the dynamic duo enjoyed a successful career at junior and young rider level.

They travelled across Europe representing Team GB and shared in a team bronze in 2000 at the Young Rider European Championships.

Cowell trains regularly with Newent-based Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester.

She said: “He’s pushed lots of rides my way and has helped me enormously in the last 20 years.”

It has been a difficult journey and took time for Cowell to build both her yard and depth in strength to her horse power.

The yard and facilities near Malvern have been 10 years in the making and with husband Harvey the couple are not finished yet.