Walesby rider Emily Parker admits to hitting a career high after helping to bring home a team gold medal from the Young Rider Eventing European Championships.

The 19-year-old was part of a six-strong British team who had to fight off opposition from 11 other nations before winning their fifth consecutive team gold at the event at Waregem in Belgium.

Parker selection to the British Young Rider team comes after a successful eventing season with her horse Treefers, a nine-year-old Dutch warm blood.

"My horse Treefers was brilliant out there in Belgium, it was a fantastic experience for all of us," she said

"The team did really well to get gold and it was a bit weird to look down and see the medal around my neck. It is normally something you see on TV so it was very odd that it was me wearing it."

The former De Aston student's has impressed selectors at events all over the country, including at the Lincolnshire Showground. Her list of achievements so far is made more remarkable when taking into account she is a 'one-horse rider'.

In the last three years, Parker (left) has had a stream of successes including runner up in the Pony Club Championships and Junior Regional Novice Championships in 2007. She was also fourth in the U21 Eventing National Championships at Weston Park.

"There are a quite a few Young Rider Trials which you are watched at by Great Britain selectors. But when you get towards the top of the sport it becomes more difficult to compete if you just have the one ride," said Parker.

"Many of the riders are able to have a back-up horse which can really help. They are also able to bring in young quality horses to get them trained up. Eventing at this level is a very expensive sport. As I move up to the top level, I am finding it is becoming a drain financially on my parents.

"I am looking to work with a sponsor to our mutual benefit and would love to hear from anyone out there who would to support me."

For more on this story see today's Lincolnshire Echo.