Disabled horse lover Rebecca Jolliff could soon be teaching riding to others, thanks to help from St John Ambulance volunteers.

Rebecca, 27, from Merton, near Bicester, was paralysed from the waist down after she fell from a polo pony in 1995.

She already competes successfully in horse-driving contests and is now setting her sights on becoming a freelance riding instructor.

Oxfordshire St John Ambulance volunteers stepped in to give her vital first aid training, which she needs to become a registered riding instructor.

Rebecca said: "They have been brilliant. St John also arranged for me to be accompanied by another instructor, Chris Harris, to be my carer for the four-day course." Fred Thornley, the county St John Ambulance commander, said: "We were pleased to be able to help Rebecca.

"I can remember when she was injured during my years as chief ambulance officer for Oxfordshire."

Rebecca was asked to take the first-aid course by the British Horse Society, so that she could become a registered and insured riding instructor.

She said: "It means that even if I cannot help a rider needing first aid, I can advise someone else."