A NORTH Hampshire teenager is dreaming of riding at the Olympics after becoming only the second Britain to qualify for an international showjumping competition.

Jordan Marshall will travel to Mexico at the end of January to compete in the Children’s International Classics Final 2012.

The 14-year-old, pictured, is ranked 21st in the world for her age-group after finishing fourth at a qualifying event in France on board her horse, Athene, incurring just four penalty points.

That was enough to book Marshall a place in the final – but it was a close-run thing.

She said: “I was really pleased to qualify because I had a pole down in my last round and it was touch and go whether I would qualify. If I had knocked one more down, I do not think I would have made it.

“I am really looking forward to the World Cup Final. I’ll be the second British rider to take part and it would be great to be the second British rider to win as well.

“I’m going with the aim of winning or doing very well but it will be very difficult. All of the riders will be very good and I will have to be right on top of my game.”

Marshall, who lives in Stratfield Saye, has been riding horses since the age of three and began jumping four years ago. She currently takes on obstacles up to 1.20m high and is looking forward to jumping even higher.

Her long-term aim is to become a top-level rider and compete at the Olympics.

She said: “Watching the Olympics on television this year was amazing. Hopefully one day I can get to that level and compete on that stage.”