Thirty-nine year old former World Number One showjumper and current World Number Three has officially announced that she and husband Markus are expecting a baby in the new year.

Meredith, born in Los Angeles, USA the day after Christmas has been riding since she barely began to walk and in 1991 she headed to Germany to train with Paul Schockemöhle.

This was supposed to be a summer

stay - but meeting Markus Beerbaum changed all that and in 1998 the petite, ever smiling American married Markus and began to ride for Germany.

The baby, due in February 2010 seems to well planned for seeing Meredith back in the saddle well in time for selection for the Alltech Kentucky World Equestrian Games.

Father to be, Markus will turn 38 in November and he himself has Gold medals on the shelf for Team results in 1997 at the European Championships and in 1998 at the World Games, along with excellent World Cup final results.

We wish Markus and Meredith all the best as they begin a new chapter in their lives - marriage, competition and baby!!!