Cornwall's Laura Dennis has qualified as a level one coach in the art of Western riding.

The 24-year-old, from Hayle, has been practising the sport for four years and trains twice a week at the Mendip Stud Farm near Cheddar, in Somerset.

Dennis' qualification enables her to teach the sport, which is the traditional art of cowboy riding.

She told BBC Spotlight: "Proper Western riding is very disciplined, it's very like English dressage."

The sport, which originates in America but is more refined and gentle than rodeo, uses American Quarter Horses, which were originally a cross-breed between the Mustang and the Conquistadors horse.

There's a lot of money in it if you can get to the top Laura Dennis

Dennis is hoping for a bright future in the sport if she can continue her progress.

"Western riding is huge in America, getting big in Europe and England are just catching up now," she said.

"You've got the big European and World games, and America to conquer so there's a lot of money in it if you can get to the top.

"We've had a good year this year. We've had a few firsts, seconds and thirds and we were lucky enough to get the novice high point trophy here at Mendip, which was lovely."

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