A KEIGHLEY native has just pulled off a major success in the horse riding world, just months after her nine-year-old mount nearly died.

Helen Jackson, 28, was imperious atop her horse Billy, formally called Addien Toy Soldier, at the prestigious North West Open Championships at Croft Top earlier this month, not only winning both her classes, but also taking the Supreme prize, as an amateur up against several professionals.

But her horse almost missed out on the glory though, with Jackson saying: "Billy caught pneumonia earlier this year.

"If we hadn't got him to the vets within hours like we did, he wouldn't be here now.

"I met him when he was six months old, when my riding instructor had him, but I bought him when he was three, and he's now nine years old.

"He's taught me plenty, especially about perseverance."

And it was that perseverance that brought Jackson glory at Croft Top, having ridden since she was just five years old.

Telling the Keighley News about her biggest achievement in the sport to date, Jackson said: "To get Supreme at the North West Champs was something I didn't think was achievable for me.

"Billy and I mainly do showing, which is flat work and a bit like dressage, except it's a bit freer, and you have two and a half minutes to showcase your horse.

"We were competing in the Open Class and in the Part-Bred Welsh one, and the judge told me to wow her on both occasions.

"I tried that, and did a different routine in each one, and we came first out of 25 in both classes.

"That put me into the Supreme competition, which was all the champions from the weekend.

"To win that was unbelievable, especially as I was up against several what we call producers, who get paid to compete in the sport."

Jackson, who attended Stanbury Primary School and Oakbank Secondary School as a youngster, has not quite achieved her ultimate goal yet though.

She explained: "It's probably the second biggest achievement I could get (Supreme at the North West Championships).

"The biggest would be qualifying for the Horse of the Year show and doing well there.

"Billy and I did most of the qualifiers earlier in the year (they began in April) and we weren't on top form then.

"We did place in a few of them, and didn't miss out on qualifying by too much, so we know it's achievable, just not right then."

Jackson, who is looking for sponsorship heading into 2023 and can be contacted on helenjackson523@gmail.com for that, still has events to look forward to this year too.

She said: "I've qualified for the big Your Horse Live event at Stoneleigh Park, just outside of Coventry, which starts on November 11.

"Then I have the STARS Championships at Aintree Equestrian Centre the following weekend.

"Billy's also been nominated for the SEIB Showing Awards as one of the top five coloured horses/ponies in the country.

"That'll be decided by an open vote, which I believe opens next week."