The SEIB Search for a Star championships take place on Friday 8 November at Your Horse Live, and first into the SEIB Main Arena at 8.40am will be the in-hand plaited ponies, horses and veterans.

A champion will be crowned for each of the three categories, and all three winners will be invited back to bid for the supreme title on Saturday. Here is a round up of the individual horses and their horses who have qualified for each championship.

In-Hand Plaited Ponies: Five finalists

The In-Hand Plaited Ponies SEIB Search for a Star final will take place at 8.40am on Friday 8 November. All finalists are 15hh or under, with handlers aged 10 or over on the day of the championship. Ponies are aged four or over.

Finalists must be shown in a bridle with a bit and best of type on the day will win.

Here are the five ponies through to the championship…

Bathleyhills Vallye Vue

Bathleyhills Vallye Vue, who has only ever been shown in-hand, is owned and handled by Victoria Leggett from Nottinghamshire.

The mare was bred by Victoria’s friend, Penny Walster of the Bathleyhills Stud, and was bought by Victoria at the age of three.

Bathleyhills Vallye Vue is a broodmare who is currently in foal with her third foal.

Barkway Samsara

Barkway Samsara is a nine-year-old bay mare who is owned and handled by Geoff Storey, who is from Cumbria.

The riding pony has also been competing in lead-rein classes with Geoff’s granddaughter.

Broadtown Make A Wish

Broadtown Make A Wish (Paris) is a four-year-old part-bred Arab pony who is owned and handled by Kathryn Masters.

Paris was bred by Tabby Brightmore and was bought by the Masters family on Valentine’s Day.

The Masters’ are using the Search for a Star In-Hand classes as an opportunity for Paris to gain experience.

Romanno Royal Myth

Romanno Royal Myth is owned and handled by Molly Bryan from Staffordshire.

The pair came second in the in-hand Search for a Star finals at Your Horse Live in 2022 and were third in 2023.

They compete at intro and prelim level in British Riding Clubs dressage and Trailblazers.

Tambrook Prayer in C

Tambrook Prayer In C is a part bred Welsh pony who is owned and handled by Claire Crerand from Nottinghamshire.

Claire bought the mare to ride and compete in small hack classes and thought Search for a Star would be a good first in-hand outing.

Tambrook Prayer in C has recently returned from two years out having a foal.

In Hand Plaited Horses & Show Cob

Horses through to this final stand at over 15hh and their handlers are aged 14 or over on the date of the championship. Horses are aged four years or over.

Any type of plaited show horse or hogged show cob is eligible, and best of type on the day will win. Horses must be shown in a bridle with a bit.

Here are the four finalists:

 

Doyley Wood

Doyley Wood is a 13-year-old Irish Draught who is owned and handled by Charlotte Liley.

Charlotte, who hails from Nottinghamshire and is a financial advisor, has owned Doyley Wood since he was six.

The pair also contests ridden showing, showjumping and dressage competitions.

Midnight's Magic

Midnight’s Magic (Larry) is a 28-year-old chestnut gelding who is owned by Gemma Hoe and handled by her sister Donna.

Larry and Gemma used to compete up to 1.30m in showjumping.

Randall IV

Twenty-six-year-old Randall IV is owned and handled by Lucy Ashworth.

The pair is no strangers to success in Search for a Star, having won the In-Hand Veteran championship at Your Horse Live in 2022.

Randall IV is an ex-showjumper and he still sometimes jumps at home. He also enjoys going on beach rides.

Rosehill Noirin

Rosehill Noirin (Willow) is a seven-year-old Irish Draught who is owned and handled by Tracy Breeden.

Tracy shares Willow with her daughter Josie and enjoys taking the mare to local shows where she has won a few Irish Draught classes.

In-Hand Veteran Horse of Pony

Horses and ponies through to this championship are aged 16 or over on the date of the final. Any type of veteran is eligible and best of type will win. They must be shown in a bridle with a bit.

The four veterans forward for the championship will be:

Ballymoore Secret Clover

This 18-year-old chestnut gelding is owned and handled by Cat Griffiths, who is from Worcestershire.

The horse is known as ‘Orange’ at home and the pair has previously competed in Search for a Star Show Hunter qualifiers.

They have competed up to elementary level dressage, and Orange jumps with Cat’s sister.

Desert Sea

Owned and handled by Wiltshire-based Dawn Bacchus, 21-year-old Desert Sea finished third in the inaugural Open Ridden Veteran championship at Your Horse Live in 2021.

The pair then went on to take the Ridden Open Veteran title at Royal Windsor the following year.

Dawn only competes Desert Sea in in-hand classes these days, and they hack out regularly at home.

Newtonhill Casanova

This Welsh section B is owned by Janet Oates and will be shown in the ring by Sammy Oates, who is a maternity support worker.

The Oates family has owned the 19-year-old pony since he was a yearling. He finished eighth at the Royal International and qualified for the London International Horse Show in 2022.

Although the pony is mainly a field and travel companion, as a three-year-old he won a riding pony class at the Royal Welsh show.

Randall IV

No, we haven’t made a mistake, Randall IV is on this page twice because he is through to the veteran final as well as the in-hand plaited horse!

At the age of 26, he is the oldest equine through and he is bidding for a second veteran title, having won here with owner/handler Lucy Ashworth in 2022.

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