The final SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star qualifier took place at Arena UK near Grantham on the 11 August.
There were a good mix of competitors qualifying for the Search for a Star HOYS finals, the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Your Horse Live finals and the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse HOYS finals.
The day saw everyone from complete showing first timers, to an apprentice farmer, an ex-riding school pony and a lorry driver all competing and qualifying for the Search for a Star finals.
Hannah Iddeson won the Mountain and Moorland Small Breeds class at Arena UK riding her own, Mynach Party Fun.
This liver chestnut Welsh section A gelding is known as Basil at home and Hannah bought him three and a half years-ago as a project.
Hannah is an equine and human sports massage therapist. She said: “Originally Basil was meant to be sold, but that hasn’t quite happened. I have brought him on and we have done plenty of dressage and now to have qualified in Search for a Star is great. My aim after Your Horse Live is to qualify for HOYS in the open M&M working hunter ponies next year.”
Heading the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland large breeds was Anika Wilding riding her own Welsh section D mare, Dylasau Calabrua Dawn. Anika, who works as a freelance hair artist, said: “It is brilliant to have qualified for the Search for a Star Your Horse Live finals.
“This is our first year out showing. Darcey, as we call her, was backed in 2018 and I have done everything with her myself and taken it slowly. We went to the Bury Farm Search for a Star qualifier a couple of months ago and just missed out on qualifying, so I am really pleased we came back.”
Anika went to watch the inaugural Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland finals at Your Horse Live last November and vowed to aim for the class this year with Darcey. She added: “It has been great having a real goal to work toward, and even better to have achieved it!”
Amelia Bullock from North Yorkshire and her Connemara pony, Claret Jug won the Working Pony Search for a Star HOYS qualifier and then later on took runner up spot in the Mountain and Moorland large breeds class to qualify for the Search for a Star Your Horse Live M&M finals.
Claret Jug is owned by Amelia’s mother, Jemma Bullock. Jemma said: “We really can’t quite believe it and are very over-excited! Milly learned to ride with Claire Robinson who we have now been friends with for years. Claire suggested that we should aim for Search for a Star and this really inspired us to do it.”
Claire Robinson’s pony, Hunky Dory, had great success in Search for a Star in 2018 and has also qualified for the Search for a Star RDA Championship this year.
Jemma bought Claret Jug, who is known as Ben at home, two years ago, she continued: “We went to see Ben and absolutely fell in love with him. He was very green to begin with and Milly has worked so hard and persevered to get him going.” Amelia also plays county hockey for North Yorkshire and has recently been selected for the England Pathway for hockey.
All the qualifiers now go through to the championship at Your Horse Live.
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