Fiona Cruikshank from Galashiels and Katie Adamson from Romano Bridge will join two girls from England for the international competition, which will see teams of 14 to 18-year-olds from 20 countries competing in team and individual events.

This week, the pair travelled to Iceland for a horse show and training events in preparation for the World Cup, which runs from July 12-20.

Riders compete in an oval arena where they are judged across a range of gaits, including the tolt – one unique to the Icelandic horse, lying between a trot and a canter.

At 14, Fiona is the youngest in the GB team, but has already been tipped for success by her Icelandic trainer who says she may even be ready to compete in the main adult event as early as next year.

Mum Sheila told TheSouthern: "It's a wonderful experience for her – she's over the moon and very, very excited. I'm so proud of her.

"She's loved horses all her life and this is a terrific thrill for her."

Fiona began riding Icelandic horses after a family friend introduced her to the breed.

Six months later, a trainer from Iceland said he had seen such progress that he gave Fiona a horse of her own and just last year, he was so impressed, he gave her an even better one.

"We travelled to Belgium to get it for her as a surprise," Sheila continued.

"She was so pleased she burst into tears when she saw it."

"She's always been besotted with horses and is determined to work with them when she's older. She's also been given the chance to go to Iceland to work on a horse farm there over the summer, which would be a fantastic opportunity."

The Icelandic horse is a unique breed and considered to be the most pure bred horse in the world.

Icelandic law rules that no animals may be imported and once a horse leaves the country it cannot be brought back, which ultimately keeps the bloodlines pure. The laws are so strict that competitors from Iceland are forced to sell their horses after competing abroad.