Llewellyn is all set for Badminton

EVENTING starlet Emily Llewellyn is back at the Badminton Horse Trials this weekend and gunning for even more scalps.

On her debut at the event in 2009, the 20-year-old from Heathfield stunned everyone by finishing as the top under 25 and also claimed the prize for best British newcomer on Society Spice.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS: Emily Llewellyn preparing her horse Society Spice for a training session, right, the pair practice their dressage routine

She is riding Society Spice again this year as well as Pardon Me II.

"The only pressure on me, is the pressure I'm putting on myself," Llewellyn, who is ranked 13th on British eventing's top 20 rider rankings, said. "Society Spice is going back again and hopefully he will do even better than last year. I've no idea how Pardon Me will do – we'll just have to wait and see.

"I'm just going to take the same approach as last year – aim to do the best I can in each phase. Where that gets me is where I will end up."

Llewellyn has already enjoyed quite a season. She has won two events already riding Society Spice – the OI at Burnham Market and then at Belton they won the Advanced under 25 by 14 marks.

"He is incredible," Llewellyn said. "He's won both events he's entered. He's been in really good form."

Balloo, the horse she is hoping to take to the Young Rider Europeans, has been in the top six every time out.

"He had a few underlying issues but that has been worked on over the winter. He's come out like a different horse this year."

Elsewhere, Junior, who Llewellyn brought on slowly, has suddenly grown up and finished his first advanced at Burnham Market double clear and then went double clear at his first CIC 3* at Belton. He has now qualified for Bramham three-day.

However, before all that happens Llewellyn has got the small matter of the most famous horse trials in the world to overcome. Dressage starts on Friday, cross-country is on Sunday, before Badminton finishes in the show jumping arena on Bank Holiday Monday.

"I'm fine with the dressage," Llewellyn said. "Cross-country is the biggest hinging point. If it goes wrong you can forget it – you won't get a place!"

Find out how she gets on in next week's Courier.