FOR a swansong it couldn't have been more exciting for 12-year-old Luli Loveridge and her pony Time to Party.

The duo from Broadwindsor were competing at the The International Horse Show in Liverpool - and were partnered with GB team showjumper Guy Williams.

They won what's known as the Mini Majors when she and Party, on their last outing together, had to jump six nearly 3ft jumps against the clock while her 'Major' partner Guy had to race round six 4ftplus jumps.

Luli was lucky enough to get a 'warm up' at Olympia after qualifying the the International Horse Show there last month.

She had a couple of poles down but mum Jemma said the 8,000-strong cheering crowd was a good introduction to the Liverpool event.

She said: "14 children are invited to ride in the Mini Major class. The minis are the children all under the age of 12 and the day before there is a class who jump 1metre 50 (nearly 5ft) and the top 14 grown ups ride in the Mini Majors and they are drawn out of a hat and paired up with the minis.

"They do six jumps each and they literally hurtle round at the rate of knots. It is so much fun and there are 10,000 people screaming for them. It is absolutely electric and quite amazing.

"To add to the atmosphere they wer dressed up - Luli as an elf and Guy as a turkey. The commentator kept referring to him as the flying turkey!

"That was the last time Luli rode Party and the next day we took it to its new home. It was bitter sweet but she got to go out with a bang.

"Guy said Luli did all work and he said either kids lose the plot or they flourish and Luli flourished.

"Straight afterwards they took her off to the TV room and she did a little press conference, which was a first. She told them she loved every second of it and she was so lucky to be drawn with Guy Williams."

Now she has said goodbye to Party Luli is going to ride her new 14.2hh chestnut mare Nelly Kid, who came second at the Horse of the Year show.

Jemma said:"She hasn't ridden her yet she'll be riding her tomorrow for the first time.

"We have a lot of goals. We'll be aiming for the Horse of the Year Show and European teams."