Ben's Euro vision

The talented rider, who has kept company' with Zara Phillips and has been coached by the legendary Pippa Funnell, can take a significant step towards fulfilling those dreams when he competes in the European Young Riders Eventing Championships later this month.

The former Haslingden High School pupil has already underlined his talents by winning the National Under 21s CCI Two Star Eventing title when he was just 18-years-old.

Now aged 19-years-old, Ben is one of 12 British riders who will take on Europe's finest in the three-day event at Blair Castle in Scotland next week - but one of only four to have been selected for the Great Britain team.

It will be a step up for Ben as the prestigious competition is a yardstick for finding genuine medal hopes for future major competitions. But he takes it all in his stride.

"I am very confident and very competitive," said Ben who has been riding since he was four-years-old. "I used to take part in other sports such as rugby and roller hockey but I realised that if I wanted to succeed then I had to concentrate all my efforts on eventing."

It is a policy that has paid dividends as Ben's natural talent, along with his dedication and hard work, has made him one of the top young three day event riders in the country.

And he will be hoping to add to his medal collection as well as extend his circle of Royal acquaintances when he meets Princess Anne at Blair Castle.

"It would be lovely to meet her and pick up my gold medal at the same time," joked Ben who has also been in the same company as the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips, the current European and World Champion eventing champion. "I have been to plenty of events she has been at but I wouldn't say she is a friend of mine. I know her to say hello to and I was drinking in the same bar as her last week!"

Joking aside, Ben and his trusty mount Uptons Who have worked hard to get to where they are.

He has been riding ever since he was four years old when he joined Irwellvale Riding Club. He then went on to join Holkham Pony Club, where he is still a member, and became the club's first rider to qualify for all three disciplines in the National Pony Club Championships.

He worked his way up through the classes first, on ponies and then working hunters, to his current standard.

Eventing consists of the three disciplines of dressage, cross country and show jumping. While Ben favours the jumping events he says his dressage as improved thanks to the guidance of his coach Jeremy Spring.

"I would have to say the show jumping and cross country are my favourites but Jeremy has been a big help to me in the dressage."

Ben rides seven days a week and goes to the gym three nights a week to make sure he stays in tip top condition.

"You have to be in peak physical fitness and so do the horses," added Ben who followed his mother Lisa in to show jumping. "But there is so much more to eventing that just getting on a horse and jumping a few fences.

"You have to build up a trust between the horse and rider and that is something that is done over a number of years.

"It's not like getting on a bike and just riding off. Horses have a mind of their own."

It's been a fruitful partnership since they teamed up five years ago although Ben admits it all began with a touch of luck.

"We read an advert in the Farmers Guardian and saw he had been sired by a former Young Riders winner. It was a bit of a gamble but is has paid off."

Ben will now be hoping that history can repeat itself.

And if it should, then he will no doubt be on the blower to Pippa Funnell and her show jumping husband William.

Pippa is one of the greatest ever event riders and the only person ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing - the prestigious award which goes to the rider who wins Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, Badminton Horse Trials, and Burghley Horse Trials all in succession.

She was also a member of the British silver medal team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and won individual bronze in Athens four years later.

It is something that is not lost on Ben who worked at their Surrey yard and picked up some invaluable experience, both training young horses and also picking up riding tips.

"Pippa and William are the riders I look up to most," said Ben who is sponsored by Lancashire-based Excel Properties Ltd. "Working with them was very hard but very rewarding. They have competed at the very highest level and just being with them has taught me a lot."

As well as winning the National Under 21s Eventing title at Weston Park, Shropshire last October and his elevation to the GB team for the European Championships, Ben's talents have also been recognised by World Class Development Plan.

The Lottery funded programme is the best indicator for recognising talent as financial backing is only provided to those athletes who are considered to be genuine medal prospects.

After the European Championships, Ben's short term goal is to ride and train horses at the stables owned by Sue Cerfoot in Cheshire.

However, his long term goal is to be an Olympian just like Pippa.

"I still have two more years as a young rider before I become a senior and work towards getting in the national team.

"But my ultimate aim is to compete in the 2012 Olympics and that is something I've dreamt about for a long time."

And should he fulfil those dreams, then he is sure to do so by Royal approval!