TALENTED teenager Heather Boden will compete in the Royal International Horse Show.

Nineteen-years-old Heather qualified with a win at Birmingham in the working hunter pony class to gain her chance of a lifetime ride at Hickstead and it will be a welcome return for her mount Yealand Paean who is no stranger to the Sussex classic.

Manchester University student and Westhoughton Pony Club member Heather is in her second year of a business studies course. But still finds time to compete at top level equestrian events and help out at the family livery yard at Astley.

Proud mum Karen told the Journal : "Her goals this year were to qualify for the Royal International and hopefully the Horse of the Year Show."

And Yealand Paean will be eager to do well at these prestigious events which he has graced before in the days prior to Heather riding him. At the age of 16 Heather has decided he deserves a well earned retirement after the end of the current season.