She may be addicted to science at school but out of hours Jessica Harrison lives and breathes ponies.

In fact the 11-year-old Okehampton College student is potty about ponies. From the age of three, led obligingly by her mother Judith, she has hunted with the Lamerton, Tetcott and South Tetcott and latterly Spooners & West Dartmoor. In her desire to follow her dreams of becoming a huntsman (if not a scientist) one day, she keenly helps her mother whip-in.

"By helping out I hope it will stand me in good stead," says Jess who also walks hounds and goes to puppy shows.

She puts hunting (with plenty of galloping) down to having a good seat, "it teaches you a lot and gives you confidence," as well as having a mum and dad (Philip) as a good rider. "I've watched their techniques and just got the hang of it – I'm the same at school, if I watch or listen I get the same idea."

Jess has also inherited her parents competitive spirit when it comes to competing, be it gymkhana, showjumping, dressage or eventing – "she's in it to win".

She doesn't have expensive ponies at her Lydford home but has been fortunate to have been given some good (and difficult) ponies who are in their twighlight years.

"We do it on a shoe-string," says Judith who is a homeopathic vet and therefore due to the nature of the job, often has to drop everything, leaving Jess to get on with the yard duties which involves looking after nine horses and ponies.

"It's down to her commitment and ability that she does so well," adds Judith.

Jess's day starts with a wake-up call at 5.45am (earlier in the summer) but a bit begrudgingly, as she admits to not being a morning person. "I'll usually have a moan but be up and mucking out by 6.30pm."

So the twice daily routine of feeding, mucking out, hacking out/schooling (Jess typically rides two hours a day in the winter and four in the summer and also attends team training with the Pony Club), rugging up and turning out (and not forgetting to tend the 11 sheep) before catching the 8.15am bus to school begins.

"You do it because you love your ponies," says Jess. "They all get a cuddle too."

Her first meal of the day is lunch – a bacon bap at school – before returning home at 4pm for "a quick bite and a change" ready for round two.

Being more of a day/night person Jess is happy to finish up around the yard and give the ponies a final check, while her mother cooks supper.

Her means of relaxation after a hard day's work is to put the music on and dance ! (Rhianna being her favourite). No wonder she stays so slim.

The wall in the family kitchen is plastered with photos of Jess competing on different ponies all depicting her love for the sport.

Taking prize position is Jess standing on a podium wearing two gold medals which she won at Cricklands unaffiliated Showjumping Championships of Great Britain last year, in the 2ft3 and 2ft6 classes with 18-year-old Barney, a New Forest pony she has on loan from the Taskis family.

"We've qualified three times and each occasion been overnight leader going into the second day but then knocked a pole in the first round or jump off," explains Jess.

"This year as we came through the timed gates I heard over the tannoy that we'd set a new winning time – it was an amazing feeling."

Jess puts her success down to an incident she had at Totnes show which proved a big learning curve.

"Barney and I used to always go flat out and so didn't take many sharp turns. At Totnes the going was greasy and he slipped over giving us both quite a shock. Since then we have slowed down. At the championships we still went for it but jumped fences on an angle which saved valuable seconds."

Jess's other rides consist of 22-year-old Rickie – her gymkhana mare who she goes to most of the one-day agricultural shows with; the family owned five-year-old Corrie (supposed to be mum's ride but Jess hopes will be her eventing prospect); seven-year-old hunter Millie, 15hh all-rounder; Mulberry, a two-year-old Thoroughbred by Thornberry and yearling Polly Flinders – Jess's Horse of the Year Show hope. "She's also by mum's old stallion, Thornberry who had a great jump in him and so we are hoping she will jump big too," said Jess who has firmly set her sights on qualifying for HOYS one day.

Dressage is Jess's least favourite discipline but if she is to go eventing then she knows it's something she has to improve on.

"I love watching Mary King and really want to give it a go," says Jess who hopes to visit Badminton Horse Trials for the first time this spring.

She is equally impressed with showjumper Michael Whitaker who she has yet to see in the flesh. "I only see him on the tv as we are too busy at home for me to go to somewhere like Olympia.

"He's unbelievable and someone I aspire to be like," adds Jess who admits to picturing herself as a future number one rider.

Jess is a keen member of the Pony Club and is working towards her C+ test. "We all stick together and have a lot of fun," she says. Summer camp in one of her favourite events. "You ride every day and then in the evening there is usually some sort of karaoke or fun and games."

It doesn't bother Jess when her school mates head to the beach when it's hot or go on a summer holiday abroad because the ponies are her life.

"They are like a member of the family to me and if they have to move on I burst into tears, it's heartbreaking."

She adds: "You have to put a lot of hours in to keep a pony and they do take over your life but every minute is worth it."

Her only real pet hate is emptying the muck buckets. And when she finally says to her mother, exhausted, "I can't..." The reply is: "There is no such thing as can't..."