SHE MAY be badly disabled - but Jane Dunham is riding high after winning a national dressage championship on her little horse Bobbie Dazzler.

Miss Dunham, 58, of Kidderminster, who suffers with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can barely walk, carried off the trophy in her category at the Riding for the Disabled Association competition in Gloucestershire.

But, modestly, she gives most of the credit to her "very special" Bobbie Dazzler and her able bodied rider, Vicky Hill, who trains the cob cross horse and prepares him for Miss Dunham to take the reins.

Miss Dunham, of Waverley Close, said: "Bobbie Dazzler means someone remarkable - very special indeed - and he is.

"If he feels me losing my balance he'll adjust his way of going.

"He always looks out for me."

Miss Dunham is secretary of the Riding for the Disabled group at Franche, Kidderminster, where she helps young people with disablities from nearby Franche School to take to the saddle.

She keeps Bobbie Dazzler at Vicky Hill's livery yard, Manor Hill Stables at Hackman's Gate, near Hagley, where her trainer is Nicky Southall, who also trains with Olympic dressage gold medallist, Carl Hester.

Recently Miss Dunham and Bobbie joined in a dressage demonstration at Manor Hill Stables, attended by members of South Staffordshire Riding Club, which provided cakes and collected money at the event.

Louise Smith, a committee member from the club, has now handed over the £300 raised to Miss Dunham to buy equipment for the Franche Riding for the Disabled group.

Miss Dunham was diagnosed with primary progressive MS 10 years ago and the disease led to her having to give up her work as a solicitor.

Although getting on to a horse is very difficult for her, she finds riding therapeutic.

"I am the only disabled rider at Vicky's stables - I turn up and I can't really walk," said Miss Dunham.

"Vicky gets my scooter out. I virtually topple out of the car on to my scooter and whizz round the yard.

"To get on Bobbie I grab the manege fence and struggle up a three-step mounting block.

"It takes two people to get me on to the horse - one to hold him and one to put my foot in the stirrup and throw my other leg over the saddle.

"I pick up my specially adapted reins and then we're off.

"I'm only walking and trotting round an all-weather surface but the feeling of freedom is just wonderful."