A FORMER racehorse overcame a major handicap to prove she is quite a lady at Cliviger Riding Club's annual trophy show.

Nation's Lady, a 13-year-old owned by Ann-Marie Whittaker, of Burnley, had an eye removed in December after vets discovered a cancerous tumour.

Within six months, the dark bay, better known as Doris, was jumping in competition again.

And at the weekend she took fourth place in the novice event on the Rowley showground after a clear round and a jump off.

Ann-Marie, 27, who bought her eight years ago, said veterinary specialists had said Nation's Lady adapted better than any other visually-impaired horse in their experience and they gave the all-clear for her to take on fences once more.

There was no prize at the comeback show in June, but that was down to Ann-Marie rather than Doris - "I fell off," she said. "If anything, she is more positive and attacks the jumps better than she did in the past."

She added: "She is very healthy and full of life and its now just a question of fingers crossed that there is no recurrence of the cancer."

There was a record turnout of East Lancashire riders as the Cliviger show continued to go from strength to strength.

The club now has a record 125 members, thanks to marketing and the higher profile policies adopted over the last two years.

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