A thriving ex-racehorse, flying Fell and spritely veteran wow Search for a Star judges

An ever-young veteran and a fantastic Fell were among the winners securing a coveted place in the Your Horse Live finals at the fourth SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers of the 2024 season. Taking place at Arena UK, courtesy of Equifest, the show on 1 August attracted more than 200 competitors across the 19 classes, offering qualification for both Your Horse Live and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Fell pony Greenholme Jake and Liam Wrobel, 14, were the first winners of the day in the Working Pony class, and wen on to also take the Your Horse Live qualifying Mountain and Moorland class.

“Our winner had lovely, correct conformation and there was no hesitation when jumping,” said judge Alan Mickleburgh.

A huge Working Horse class went to Search for a Star first timers, Karen Tennent and Robin Vestey’s mare, Harley.

“We came for a lovely day out, I would have been happy with her going well and maybe a rosette, but to have
won is just amazing,” said Karen. “We’ve had Harley for a year, previously she was hunting in the Welsh mountains. We bought her to hunt which is her main job. The showing is some extra entertainment for her!”

Jessica Buxton won the Show Hunter class with Laura Chisholm’s gelding, Rodney.

“I’m so proud of Rodney, he is like a big Labrador,” Jessica said. “This is our first big show and we came for the experience. The ride judge, Jordan Cook said he really liked him.”

In the Riding Horse Hack class, the win went to solicitor, Hannah Pedley and her own mare, Kilbrickens Princess.

“I’m really pleased, she felt great in the ring — it was like she knew she should really perform today,” said Hannah. “She was relaxed and lovely for the judge.”

The Show and Maxi Cob class as won by Carl Phillips-Davies and Corrine Knox’s, Away With The Greys. Sadly, following their win this combination realised they are ineligible for Search for a Star so they withdrew from the series.

“I wanted to thank everyone at SEIB Search for a Star for the support while entering the competition this week,” said Corrine.

Rebecca Davies and her own bay gelding, Top Gun, took runner-up spot in the Cobs.

“Otto is just ace,” she said. “I bred him myself and we now have a full brother on the way. This is our first year showing and a friend said we should definitely give Search for a Star a go.”

Collette McGoldrick’s Mumford won a large and competitive SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier. This is the third time Mumford has qualified for HOYS in this class.

“He is so great, my sister is keen to qualify him in the Riding Horse class as well,” said Collette. “He’s still only 11-years-old and feeling as well as ever.”

In the Traditional Cob HOYS Search for a Star qualifier, Fordfield Blue and Jack Gratton from Lincolnshire took top spot.

“I’m so pleased, he really felt like he enjoyed it today,” Jack said. “I’ve had him for four years now and we concentrate on showing. We’ve got three other traditionals now at home as well. He’s won all the local shows and loves his hacking and jumping. The horses are very much my hobby and I work as a manager at McDonalds.”

The one SEIB Search for a Star class open to all riders and not restricted to amateurs, the Open Ridden Veteran, was won by Charlotte Bunting and her own traditional cob gelding, Call the Shots.

“He was amazing in there today – he still thinks he’s a five-year-old,” Charlotte said of the 19-year-old. “We just do veteran classes now and we plan to give dressage a go as well. I’ve owned him for 14 years. I did sell him for two years but then he came back, he simply enjoys everything, jumping, pleasure rides and generally being the centre of attention.”

The SEIB Search for a Star Pony Club qualifying classes saw the first ever Search for a Star Train and Shine Pony Club Masterclass, carried out by former Pony Club examiner and show pony producer, Dena King. The Masterclass gave the opportunity for those children entered in Pony Club Search for a Star at Arena UK to come forward before their classes and have a run through of the go-round and then carry out a trial show with instruction and pointers from Dena before their class.

In the Lead Rein class, seven-year-old Jessica Stancliffe took the top spot with her Welsh Section A pony, Synod Miss Sapphire. Jessica is a member of the Oxenholme Branch of the Pony Club.

“I love cantering on Sapphire and we are going to Pony Club camp next week,” said Jessica.

The First Ridden went to Ianna Grant and Thistledown Edison. This pair are members of the Ross-Shire Pony Club and travelled down from the North of Scotland for Search for a Star and Equifest. Nine-year-old Ianna is no stranger to Search for a Star, she and Edison won the Lead-Rein championship in 2023 and are now in their first season off the lead rein.

“They are off the lead-rein in the ring this year,” said her mother, Charlotte. “The 11 hour journey to Arena UK is our
‘Summer tour!’”

Jessica Carter and Rebecca Carter’s Appaloosa pony, Target (‘Henry’), took top spot in the Open Pony Club class. Jessica is in the Grove Pony Club.

“My favourite part about today is spending time with Henry,” said Jessica. “He is just amazing, we got held up by an accident and only got here five minutes before the class. We compete mainly in showing although we had a really tough decision between Pony Club camp and Search for a Star and Equifest this week.”

The Search for a Star In-Hand Plaited Horse and Hogged Show Cob went to Charlotte Liley and her own Irish Draught, Doyley Wood.

“We came second in this class at Vale View last month and took away what the judge said before coming back today,” said Charlotte. “I had a retired racehorse before him and was on the lookout for something with more
bone.”

In the In-Hand Plaited Pony class, Kathryn Masters’ four-year-old part-bred Arab, Broadtown Make a Wish (‘Paris’) took first place with handler, Charlotte Langridge.

“My daughter Emily is fourteen and Paris will be the next size up for her,” said Kathryn. “We are using the In-Hand classes as a grounding for Paris, to get out and about and see the world. Then hopefully Emily will compete in 14.2 show pony classes and part-bred Arabs with her.”

Kimberley Turner and her own traditional cob gelding, Bromley Cask of Magners won the In-Hand Native and Traditional class.

In the In-Hand amateur veteran class, Sammy Oates with Janet Oates’, Welsh Section B pony, Newtonhall Casanova took top spot.

“We’ve owned him since he was a yearling, we went on a stud visit, saw his head over the door and fell in
love,” said Sammy. “We broke him in but he can be quite sharp. He is now 19-years-old, he came 8th at the Royal
International and qualified for London Horse Show in 2022.

“He is mainly a field and travel companion, but also as a three-year-old won the Riding Pony class at the Royal Welsh show.”

The In-Hand Mountain and Moorland class went to Rebecca Jayne Rawlinson-Allen and her Fell pony, Nabside Gracie.

“She is a superstar and loves her showing,” said Rebecca Jayne. “We haven’t done all that much, I bought her as a three-year-old in lockdown and she had a filly foal — who I still have — in 2022. Gracie was bred on the fells in Cumbria, the in-hsnd showing we’ve done has been a real stepping-stone and now having qualified in the in-hand Search for a Star class, it would be great to have a go at the ridden one next year.”

The British Riding Clubs (BRC) Search for a Star class also took place at Arena UK. It was won by Kate Smith and her Connemara gelding, Dream Shadow. Kate and ‘Orea’ are members of the North Mimms Riding Club.

“I like showing and Oreo likes jumping so we do a bit of both,” said Kate. “We went jumping at Wales and West recently and got a clear round and we compete both locally and on Riding Club teams. Today is an extra special day for Oreo as its his birthday – he’s 17 today!”

Judges at Arena UK included Alan Mickleburgh, Magnus Nicholson, Kate Nicholson, Dena King and Terry Chalmers, as well as longstanding series judges, Jordan Cook and Louise Gaunt. Search for a Star stewards included John Foster, Alex Osborn, Craig McLelland, Emma Rodman and Dave Tabern.

Click here to find out about up-and-coming qualifiers for the Search for a Star series.

Lead image by Jordan Brooking

Further reading

• Feeding a competition horse: diet advice for achieving good performance and good coat shine
• Practice makes perfect: four flatwork exercises using straight lines
• Signs a horse is lacking suppleness, plus exercises to improve it