JODIE BRYAN was born to ride. She sat on her first pony Raffles at the age of four, and has not looked back since.

Just turned 15, the Canterbury High School pupil is being tipped for a bright future in the sport.

Horses are her life for Jodie, the oldest of three sisters. Demi, 10, and eight-year-old Kadee also ride at Denstead Stud Farm at Chartham Hatch near Canterbury, owned by their parents Joanne and Kevin.

She combines studying for 13 GCSEs – Maths is her favourite subject – with looking after Jim, her 15.2 hands dark bay horse, before and after school, and has ambitions to be selected for the Great Britain Junior Eventing Squad in 2007.

Other aims are to compete regularly on the senior British Showjumping Association circuit in jumping and eventing competitions this year, before purchasing a new horse next year, and moving on to Foxhunter and Intermediate events.

One of Jodie’s coaches is Marietta Fox-Pitt, mother of Olympic star William, and she has also impressed former Irish Olympic international three-day eventer Lucy Thompson, who says it is several years since she saw anyone so young, as good as her.

She assessed and passed the youngster for her BSJA dressage and showjumping, and, on Thursday at Matfield, for the cross-country test.

Jodie is now eligible to compete in affiliated competitions, and enters her first one-day event at Meopham in May.

Jodie competed at shows up until the age of 11 with many successes. She had numerous wins at showjumping and dressage competitions, before her and Jim represented West Street Pony Club at the South of England Showground at Ardingly and Hickstead.

She regularly competes on the BSJA senior circuit, and has done well at British Novice and Discovery level, as well as being successful in Pony Club events at Brightling in Sussex and Nurstead near Meopham.

Last year she won the Club’s Challenge Cup for her branch after being nominated as the most successful member.

Her mother Joanne said: "We are looking to attract a sponsor for Jodie. It costs £120 towards stabling costs, £15/£20 to compete in every class, and between £60 and £70 to compete in eventing competitions but I don’t think we can afford to let this talent slip by."

Jodie celebrated her birthday recently, and received sponsorship donations from three anonymous donors, as well as a classical riding lesson from Faversham-based instructor Phillip Elliot-Smith.

Any company interested in supporting Jodie’s quest to reach the top can call Joanne on 01227 738398.