Essex's Laura Louden will be flying the flag for England this weekend -- at the age of just 14.

The talented Althorne rider has been selected for the England 138cms showjumping team at the Welsh Home Pony International (July 20-23).

She will partner the veteran pony Blaenyfan Jubilee, now 25 and with a wealth of top level experience behind him.

"The pony really is 25 years young and has been on teams before," explained Laura's mum Mrs Debbie Louden.

"It will be Laura's England team debut, although she has not long returned from the Cavan Pony International in Ireland, where she competed in an international team but missed an England place."

Laura, who is trained by Wickford's Maggie Lockhart, is lucky to be competing at all, as in early May she suffered a severe accident at home, when she was kicked in the head by another pony.

"She needed 24 stitches and plastic surgery to repair the damage," added Mrs Louden. "Remarkably she was back jumping the weekend after the accident and won two classes."

Such tenacity and courage bodes well for Laura's future in this demanding sport.

She continued to show good form on Blaenyfan Jubilee at her latest show, at the Wales and West Showground near Newport, where the pair finished third in a strong Grand Prix.

She will return to this venue for her Home International debut, where her teammates will include 1999's top 138cms rider Amanda Bravington and Hertfordshire's Hannah Paul.

Laura will then travel on to the famous Hickstead arena in Sussex at the end of July, for the Traxdata Royal International Horse Show, where she will be up against Britain's top young showjumpers, aged 14 and under.

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