AN ATHERTON schoolgirl who could not stand the sight of horse muck has scooped two top prizes in her first show. Kelly Lamb, aged nine, of Car Bank Street, would not even go near horses 12 months ago.

Her horse mad mum Joanne had hoped to get her daughter hooked but Kelly refused to have anything to do with them.

But when little sister Amy, aged four, began to take an interest, Kelly decided to give it a go.

She took up riding and realised she loved it. Now Kelly cannot get enough of looking after her eight-year-old pony Blue.

The Chowbent Primary School pupil goes to visit her pony at Park End Farm in Atherton every day -- and now even loves mucking out the stables.

And excited Kelly was overjoyed when she won the Young Handler trophy and the best Section A Welsh pony trophy at the show.

Mum Joanne, 32, said: "She couldn't stand the sight of horses and hated horse muck.

"When I took her to the stables she would just sit in the car or moan about how she wanted to go home.

"But now you can't get her away from them. She wants to do all the shows and she was over the moon withthe trophies."

Kelly, who had to demonstrate great poise and skill to win the prizes at the horse show in Aspull, said: "I am really pleased to have won.

"I am really happy. I love horses now."