KATHRYN Wheelock is a remarkable young woman.

Despite being born with cerebral palsy and a learning disability, she excels in dressage - an equine sport not known for its uncomplicated nature.

And, as well as competing in national and international disabled dressage competitions, she also regularly competes against able-boded riders - and wins.

"I love my horses and I love to go to able-bodied competitions and try to beat the able-bodied competitors," she said.

Kathryn, 31, who lives in Glusburn, started riding at the age of eight and quickly discovered she had a talent.

While at Pony Club level, she discovered a liking for dressage and quickly started making a name for herself.

Now, the former British National Disabled Dressage Rider Champion and Riding for the Disabled National Champion rides for Para Equestrian Ireland, and has set her sights on competing in next year's Paralympics in Hong Kong.

Last week, she learned she had been selected to attend the Paralympic Council of Ireland's acclimatisation camp in Bejing in August. Although it does not necessarily mean she will compete in Hong Kong, she is now very much in the running.

Long-term goals for the star member of Otley and District Riding for the Disabled also include the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 and the London Paralympics in 2012.

The sport of dressage, with its roots in ancient Greece, aims to show the horse's natural ability through a series of exercises. Soldiers in ancient Rome used their skills to fight from horseback, turning and moving their mounts with great manoeuvrability.

Modern riders have to learn the same series of complicated moves, but instead of the battlefield, they perform them in front of a panel of judges.

In perfect harmony with their horse, they perform circles, figures of eight, half passes and shoulder ins, and move from walk to canter and to dead stops.

Kathryn has a special dispensation that allows her to have instructions called out.

"Due to my learning difficulties I have a short-term memory, so dressage is great for me as I can have my tests called. I also have problems with spatial awareness, so it's practice makes perfect when it comes to learning the movements and shapes required in my tests," she explained.

"I find it hard to co-ordinate my limbs and it's hard for me to move my left and right sides independently of each other. I'm weaker down my right side, but riding has definitely made me stronger and more balanced."

Her current rides are Indi, a 14-year-old 15hh Irish sports horse, and Eliza Doolittle, a 14-year-old 15hh thoroughbred cross.

Supported by her mother, Jan, Kathryn goes to Harrogate and Leeds for training sessions with leading dressage tutors Cathy Burrell and Hannah Moody, who treat her like any other rider.

Later this month, she's off to Austria for a competition with Eliza and in July it's back to Hartpury, Gloucestershire, for the World Para Dressage Championships.

Kathryn, who rides five times a week, clearly loves her horses and has a real gift with them. They trust her and are easy around her - a gift not every rider can boast.

"When she first wanted to do dressage I thought she wouldn't be able to do it, she couldn't see the shape of a circle, but she can," said Jan.

Kathryn, who is sponsored by several companies, is starting to look now for a horse to bring on for the London games in 2012. "What we need is for some kind person to come up with a horse for us," added Jan.

To find out more about Kathryn, including supporting her Paralympic dream, visit www.para-equestrian.com