Equestrian: Samantha Albert will make history this summer when she becomes the first person to represent Jamaica at an Olympic equestrian event.

Like the famous Jamaican bobsleigh team of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Albert and horse Before I Do It will be raising the profile of a sport few people know about on her home island.

With only five weeks until the equestrian programme starts in Hong Kong, Albert, of Hilmarton, is keen to get going.

She said: "It's very exciting, it's going to be great to be out there.

"Being in the Olympics is a bit of a dream.

"I wanted to get that under my belt before I retired having not qualified in the past."

Albert moved to England from Jamaica in 1990 to pursue her Olympic dream.

She said: "I came to England to try and qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but didn't make it.

"I did qualify for Atlanta in 1996 but my horse picked up an injury so I couldn't go.

"I then gave up the sport and had two children only picking it up again in 2000."

She added: "When I came back I gave myself the aim of reaching the Olympics and now I'm there it's fantastic.

The Canadian born Albert started riding in Jamaica at an early age.

She said: "My parents took me and my sisters to a riding school when I was three.

"My sisters hated it but I loved it and I just carried on from there.

"Living in Jamaica though meant I had to travel to North America and around the Caribbean in order to compete."

Whereas most countries will be sending a team of riders to Hong Kong the 36-year-old Albert will be the sole representative from her country.

With not much of a following back home financial support has been limited.

She said: "I've had to fund a lot of the trip myself.

"The Jamaican Olympic Association are paying for my flight and the groom's flight but the rest I'm having to pay for, including the horse's flight which is expensive.

"My Mum is busy fundraising back in Jamaica. It's been great that so many people have contributed but there is still a long way to go."

Albert admits the Olympic medals are probably beyond her reach but wants to qualify in the top 25 show jumpers and has her sights set on 2012.

She said: "I want to go out there and perform but on this horse I'm probably not going to get a medal. I want to be invited back for the second round of show jumping, that's my target.

"I have another young horse though called Blarney Banker who could be in with a chance to win a medal in 2012.

"It would be fantastic to compete in London, it just depends if my body and the money keeps going."

For more information visit samanthaalbert.com