Georgie Spence, riding Running Brook II

Nineteen-year-old Georgie Spence, from Chippenham, is the youngest rider at the 2008 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, which started today.

Georgie is on the world class development programme, a Lottery funded programme through UK Sport, designed to assist in the development of talented riders.

She will be riding Running Brook II, a 12 year-old horse owned by her grandparents, who Georgie admits has gone a lot further than they first thought when they bought him two and a half years ago.

Georgie is making her debut at Badminton and is determined to enjoy her first experience at the three-day event.

Although slightly nervous, she is adamant that she is going to enjoy all three phases and use this opportunity as a fantastic learning experience, that will stand her in good stead for the future.

Her aim is to complete the competition, but a bonus would be to jump round clear over the massive cross-country course that Hugh Thomas has built this Olympic year.

"I am not putting myself under any pressure, you can only get experience by getting out there and doing it," says Georgie, who wonders whether some riders these days are not quite brave enough to have a go' and are probably too conscious of their rider records and everyone knowing there mistakes.

Badminton is an event that Georgie rates as truly massive in regard to its history and the top riders who have won there. Even though come Sunday afternoon, she may not be holding the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Trophy, this experience will be the foundation on which she can build on, until she does.

1:40pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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