HORSES were the centre of Holly Dodd’s life from the age of six.

By the time she was 15, Holly, of Berwick Road, Ellesmere Port, had been selected for the GB Young Rider showjumping squad – but her dreams were destroyed days before a crucial trials event when she suffered a severe ankle injury.

Holly, then a pupil of Upton High School, fell down a grid while on school premises which had no cover on it, tearing three ligaments.

After two operations at the Countess of Chester Hospital, she was left heartbroken when doctors advised her against competing again.

Her career as a showjumper was over, but her passion for horses meant she remained committed to riding and volunteered at a number of stables in the area, including Cheshire Riding School.

It was here that Holly – now 25 – met Marcuzzi’s Lady, a mare who had also suffered an ankle injury.

“I rode her, and I just knew it was meant to be,” she said.

“She was for sale and I was lucky enough to be able to buy her.”

Determined to keep riding, Holly and Marcuzzi’s Lady – now nicknamed Mandy Moo – earned a place in this year’s Trailblazers Championships, held in Coventry, on August 4, where they were named senior novice dressage champions.

Holly added: “We had to wait for quite a while after we competed to find out if we had won. When they called out my name I just cried. It was amazing.

“We only started doing dressage in January, before that we were showjumping, but I don’t want her to risk any further injury.

“Hallwood Stables in Ledsham are really supportive and I couldn’t have done it without my trainers, Gilly Read and Adrian Wong.

“Mandy is fantastic and this could be a new beginning for both of us.”