Zara Phillips rides cross country at Tweseldown Horse Trials in Hampshire

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The royal took part in Tweseldown Horse Trials in Aldershot
She rode in the cross country and showjumping rounds on two horses
Equestrian hopes to compete in 2016 Olympic games in Rio

Published: 14:32 EST, 14 July 2015 | Updated: 15:48 EST, 14 July 2015

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Last week she was spied on a bicycle, pedalling to support husband Mike Tindall during his quadrathlon in Scotland but today Zara Phillips was back in a very different kind of saddle.

The Olympian joined equestrians at the Tweseldown Horse Trials in Aldershot, during a day of show jumping, cross country riding and dressage.

It was a return for work after the excitement of Princess Charlotte's christening and socialising with her cousins at Ascot.

Zara Phillips rides Rum Expectations in the cross country section of the Tweseldown Horse trials

The pro drives Rum Expectations on at the Tweseldown Horse trials in Aldershot

Every inch the athlete, Zara, 34, was snapped riding a a bay horse called Rum Expectations and a chestnut named Drops Of Brandy.

During the cross country challenges, the royal wore waterproofs and sturdy boots and only changed into tailored navy jacket with red lapels for the show jumping round.

Just a week ago, however, she played a supporting role to her husband, who was taking on a sporting challenge of his own in the Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon in Perthshire.

Dressed in jeans and waterproofs she cycled out to meet Mike, riding with 18-month-old Mia in a baby seat on the back.

Like husband Mike, Zara has enjoyed significant amounts of sporting success in recent years and is hoping to secure a place in the British eventing team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next summer.

Zara also rode Drops of Brandy during the cross country challenge, leaping over jumps on the course

Both Zara and Drops of Brandy look lively after taking on the challenge at the Aldershot course

However, Zara - who was riding again just 12 weeks after giving birth, has also been open about the difficulties of returning to full fitness after the birth of her daughter.

She told FT Weekend Magazine that she has spent her afternoons swimming and cycling to become fighting fit again, admitting: 'What surprised me about having a baby is losing all your fitness and how tough it is to get it back.'

Crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006 Zara won team silver at the 2012 Olympics in London on her horse High Kingdom.

She also has a host of other awards under her belt including individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championships in 2005 and individual gold and team silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

Zara takes on eventing in her navy jacket with red lapels and smart white jodhpurs on Drops of Brandy

Meanwhile, Zara has released her new equestrian-themed jewellery line, produced in collaboration with designer John Calleja.

Her career - and her lucrative endorsements of Land Rover and Rolex among others - is managed by her brother Peter Phillips, who, like his sister, has no royal title and receives no money from the public purse.

Zara, who says her brother can be 'bossy' at times, says both have been inspired to work harder by the example set by their mother, Princess Anne.

Last year, their mother the Princess Royal undertook more public engagements than any other royal, with the sole exception of her brother, Prince Charles.

Zara Phillips continued to ride when pregnant with Mia