Some people say first impressions are everything but that doesn’t ring true for young rider Jessica Whitehead.

The teenager is achieving great things on board Amazing Spiderman, the 12-year-old horse she bought in 2017.

It was a big ‘no’ from the Dartford girl when she first set eyes on him but they’re virtually inseparable these days.

They’ve enjoyed a splendid season together, with Whitehead becoming junior individual champion at the British Dressage Youth Home International in July.

Stepping up a level, she finished fourth at the Under-25 Championships Show at Sheepgate, in August, in what was her first Prix St George.

Later that month, she finished highest-placed youth rider and became reserve bronze advanced medium champion at the British Dressage Summer Music Championship.

None of it would have been possible without Amazing Spiderman but their partnership nearly didn’t happen.

Whitehead said: “I’d just been to see a horse in Holland that failed the vetting process and my trainer said, ‘come and have a look at this horse I’ve got at the yard’.

“He was overweight and had been out in a field for six months.

“I had my pet chihuahua with me and when he came out of the stables he sat on the floor because he was scared. He was so scared of everything.

“I remember saying, ‘I don’t want to get on him, he’s not for me’ but my trainer said, ‘you’ll love him’.

“I was so little I couldn’t get him to canter on one leg. I remember struggling and being scared of him but once I got used to him I didn’t want to get off.

“He’s a fresh horse, he’s quite active – what they call a hot horse – and he’s very sharp and receptive. He’s so willing to learn, so genuine and he’s got such good characteristics.

“He’s gone up five or six levels and he just loves learning. It’s such a pleasure to have him at the yard because he’s a lovely character who loves to please.

“I just hit it off with him, which I didn’t think I would considering I thought he was going to kill me!

“He’s my competition horse and I adore him. He’s something else – so special.”

Whitehead is hoping to gain international recognition for Great Britain next year as her riding career goes from strength to strength.

But the busy teenager has other interests besides competition and has started her own livery business at home.

She’s also in the process of becoming a personal trainer.

“I always knew I wanted to be a rider and a trainer,” she said.

“But I’m also very into fitness so I go to the gym twice a week with a PT and I try and get there at least four times a week.

“Riding isn’t just about the strength and fitness of the horse, it’s also about yours, and since I’ve been going to the gym, my riding has come on leaps and bounds.

“I’m so much stronger and I want to be a PT as well, to run alongside my business.”

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