Until April this year, Alice Wotton was living in a caravan with her mum, dad and two brothers while their house was repaired following the devastating blaze in 2007.

The family live in a 15th century thatched cottage in Pebmarsh Road, Twinstead, but a fierce chimney fire devastated the property two years ago, destroying virtually everything inside it.

Having two ponies, Ruby and Bouncer, helped Alice through the trauma of the fire.

After throwing herself whole-heartedly into her hobby, she managed to qualify for the Royal International Horse Show in July, and also the Horse of the Year Show in October.

Alice, 13, who will ride with Ruby in the two competitions, said she is greatly looking forward to the challenge.

She said: “When the fire happened, I had the ponies to get away from it all and that really helped.

“I am really happy about qualifying.

“It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“It’s going to be fun and I am quite confident but at the same time I get really nervous.”

A Year 8 pupil at Hedingham School, Sible Hedingham, Alice has experienced a whirlwind of success since she started riding four years ago.

Last year she was victorious in two classes at the National British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Championships and she also clinched the Coalport Super League at the Ponies UK Championships.

Alice’s mum, Sara, drives her to events all over the country and says she is immensely proud of her daughter.

She said: “We are all incredibly proud of Alice’s achievements to date, she is totally dedicated to her ponies and does all the work herself.

“We have all helped each other get through what’s happened and the fact that the children have their own interests has really helped.”