Madonna's horse help

Jan 15, 2009, 11:00 GMT

Madonna has flown a top British eventer to America to coach her in the horse riding sport. EPA/CLAUDIO REYES

Madonna has flown a top British eventer to America to coach her in the horse riding sport.

The 'Miles Away' singer is due to attend the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida later this month, and has asked riding expert Daisy Trayford to help her master the often dangerous activity.

Daisy explained: "She's really good fun and very driven, listens to what you say and just wants to do it and improve. You can always get somewhere with someone like that. When I started teaching her she hadn't jumped at all and now she can jump a course of 1.05m. Jumping and hacking are her two favourite things."

Eventing comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping, and tournaments can run over one, two or three days.

Madonna met Daisy when the 50-year-old singer bought two horses from her, and the pair have remained friends ever since.

Claiming she is never star-struck when working with Madonna, Daisy explained: "I'm pretty laidback about things like that. She's very friendly and we have been to things like Christmas drinks and her 50th birthday party and met lots of stars."

Madonna is a keen rider who owns several horses, and her love of the activity is even rumoured to have caused tensions in her marriage to ex-husband Guy Ritchie.

It has been suggested the turning point in the couple's relationship came when the singer broke eight bones during a horse riding accident in 2005, after which Madonna claims she received a "complete lack of love and sympathy" from Guy.