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Photo caption: Rebecca Court took second place in the Racehorse to Riding Horse class with Diana Taylor’s Festive Fare
SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse 2024 continued at Vale View Equestrian Centre in Leicestershire on 9 June 2024. The team of Search for a Star judges, Mr Richard Ramsay, Nicki Taylor, Sam DeCaprio, Louise Gaunt and Craig McLelland, were joined by former Search for a Star winner turned professional producer, Jordan Cook, on the day. Jordan won the SEIB Search for a Star Championship back in 2007 with his stunning hack Fleetwater Xecutive and has remained a strong supporter of the series ever since.
The first winner of the day was 16-year-old Delilah Eve-Beck and her mother Gemma Beck’s Welsh Section C Mossgate in the Mix (Usher) in the working pony class. A delighted Delilah said: “He went so well in there today. We came second at Stoneleigh a few weeks before and decided to come back.”
Delilah’s mother Gemma added: “We had to hire a lorry to come today and go on an hour and a half’s drive to collect it. We did Search for a Star a few times last year and their best result was third. It’s lovely to come back this year knowing what to expect.”
Delilah, who is a pupil at Fernwood School in Woolerton, continued: “We worked hard on our schooling over the winter. I’ve had Usher for about 18 months and we’ve been competing in mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes, as Usher loves his jumping. He’d mainly done in-hand showing before we owned him.”
Winner of the working horse class was Irish Sports Horse, Lisboy Red Wine and Jessica Walker. Noble, as this elegant chestnut is known at home, is owned by Readyfield Bloodhounds Master, Graham Smith. Jessica, who works as a self-employed freelance groom and hunts the Readyfield Bloodhounds for Graham, said: “Noble’s just a five-year-old and hasn’t done a lot but he’s taken to showing like a duck to water. Horse of the year Show (HOYS) has always been a dream.”
Graham commented: “I bought him from the Goresbridge Sales as an unbroken three-year-old, as I liked the look of him. We haven’t really had a job for him yet, so Jessica said she would bring him to Search for a Star to see how they got on.”
Jessica added: “I did Search for a Star about 12 years ago with a working hunter and then we thought this year Noble needs a job, so let’s give it a go. This is just his fourth outing and he’ll do some more showing over the summer, as he seems to absolutely love it.”
Thirteen show hunters came forward for their class, which was won by Samantha Lea riding her own Redshaw Valentino, known at home as Henry. Samantha said: “Henry was so polite for the judge. We absolutely love him, he’s like a big Labrador. I’ve only been back riding for a short while, as I’ve had a baby called Hugo who is just seven months old. Henry lives on our working farm and we’ve owned him since he was a four-year-old. We’ve also qualified for the Royal International (RI) this year in the amateur class. We brought Henry to do Search for a Star two years ago and the judge said to give him more time, so it’s all worked out well.”
Taking the second qualifying spot in the hunters was Mairi Dillon with her own Rambunctious Ralph. Mairi, who works for an international property company, said: “We’ve only just got to grips with showing and he used to lose his head a bit in big groups, so it’s taken lots of patience. We were pulled in fifth and he went beautifully. I’m very proud of him. He hasn’t been an easy horse to get going with, but we started affiliated showing last year and we’ve been to Windsor and Stoneleigh. We’ve had him since he was six and he’s now 11. He also enjoys competing in endurance riding and showjumping.”
In the riding horse hack class Zoe Falkner and her own Quaikin Enigma (Maisie) took first place. This was the mare’s second ever show and Zoe explained: “We nearly didn’t come today, as we’ve only ever been to one local show before this, but it’s nearby for us and our one chance to give Search for a Star a try. Maisie’s 12 but has done nothing. We’ve never had any transport, so haven’t really gone anywhere beyond a few clinics and spending plenty of time hacking out. But I got a lorry at Christmas, so we will be off to lots of shows this summer. I showed a bit when I was younger, including taking second in the Search for a Star Show Pony HOYS finals back in 2007. I’m now an accountant and have had a 10-year break from competing. A friend of mine was going to look at Maisie and I was planning my wedding, so I definitely wasn’t looking for a horse, but I ended up buying her.”
Hairdresser Rebecca Parkin from North Yorkshire and her palomino mare Foxgrove Legally Blonde took second place in the riding horse hacks in their first show season. Rebecca said: “We backed her as a three-year-old two years ago. I always wanted a big palomino, as I had a small one when I was a child. She has a cracking temperament, and it was really busy at Vale View with lots to take in, but she gave both me and the ride judge a beautiful ride. I used to show at county level as a kid and have had a big break from it. I had a hunter a couple of seasons ago and we did a Search for a Star qualifier in 2022 but he didn’t really enjoy it, so we went looking for one that does enjoy it.”
In the show and maxi cob class, former Search for a Star finalist, Nicola Reeder, took top spot with her skewbald cob, Double Denim. A delighted Nicola said: “He went great and gave the judge a super ride. It’s the first Search for a Star qualifier we’ve tried, and it’s been a long journey to get this far. I’ve had him since he was three and he’s now 13. For the first four years we couldn’t ride him at all – he just bolted. It turned out he had ulcers, and we turned the corner as soon as they were sorted out. We do lots of dressage together and he’s also qualified for the London Horse Show in December. We’ve just kept plugging away and gaining confidence. When I was much younger, I came second in the Search for a Star HOYS finals with my cob, Collier. It’s a wonderful competition to be able to do. Maybe I’ll come back again after another 10 years.”

Photo: Kevin Sparrow Photography. Caption: Nicola Reeder, took top spot with her skewbald cob, Double Denim
Natacha Bonner and her own Soot Supreme, who took second place in the cobs, said: “He went the best he’s ever gone. We did the working horse class this morning and came fourth, so we had a great day out. I’ve owned him for 18 months and we bought him to hunt and as a field master’s horse. He loves his showing, and we competed in Search for a Star in 2023 but were unplaced. He’s matured over winter, so we decided to come back. We took fifth place at the Stoneleigh Search for a Star qualifier earlier this year and, over the summer, we’ll also find some working cob classes for him to do, and he’ll be going on plenty of hound exercise, too.”
Jenni Powell’s striking bay, Grandad’s Legacy, won a large and very competitive SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier. This was the first open Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier of the season and many of the big names in retrained racehorses were in attendance on the day. Ably ridden by Skye Houldsworth, Grandad’s Legacy was placed in every SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier in 2023. Skye said: “He went brilliantly and is such a good boy. This is his third season showing and his second season with me.”
Jenni Powell has owned Grandad’s Legacy since he was a yearling. He was in training with Sam and Ali Strong and ran on the flat as a two- and three-year old. Jenni said: “My late father left me some money and I liked the look of Billy, as we call him. He had great natural balance, so I thought if he didn’t make the grade on the racecourse, he would always have another job to go to. It turned out he didn’t like the stalls and racing wasn’t for him, so we turned him away before slowly bringing him back to retrain as a show horse. He has a proper home with Skye and is so happy. I used to show ponies and horses when I was younger, and we had ponies at HOYS 20 years ago.”
Amateur rider, Rebecca Court took second place in the Racehorse to Riding Horse class with Diana Taylor’s Festive Fare (Fletcher). Rebecca was delighted with the horse and said: “We’ve got off to a good start together with wins and championships and reserves at the South of England Spring Show, Suffolk County and the Hunter Spring Show. I haven’t contested this series since 2019 with Desert Joe and it’s great to be back.”
Gary Merton, travelling to Vale View with Rebecca, said: “Fletcher was in training with Charlie Appleby for Godolphin and came to Diana through the Godolphin Lifetime Care scheme. He ran nine times from Charlie’s yard and was placed in the Group 3 Winter Derby Trial. Fletcher is by Teofilio and his dam was a half-sister to Group 1 winner Dishaan. He earned a total of £63,000 in win and place money and won his first three starts as a two-year-old. He’s 12 now.”
Rebecca added: “Diana got Fletcher straight from Godolphin and she is so supportive. I met her at a show, and she has eventually let me have him.”
In the traditional cob HOYS Search for a Star qualifier, retired hairdresser Carol Sweeting and her own six-year-old mare, Blue Sea Gypsy, took first place. Carol said: “It’s our first big show and I couldn’t be more delighted. I lost my hogged cob back at the start of last year and I’ve had Blue Sea Gypsy since August 2023. She belonged to the yard owner at my livery yard, who bought her as a three-year-old and broke her in. After I lost my cob, I was hacking her out and fell in love with her. This is just our fifth show together and I was a bit bullied into coming today, but I thought why not we’ll give it a go and I’m very glad I did. I did Search for a Star a few years ago and took ninth place.”
Bethany Broadbent from North Yorkshire and Alison Broadbent’s Midnight Cappucino took runner-up spot in the traditional cobs. Bethany said: “We’ve had him since he was just five months old and he’s 10 now. We’ve done everything. He’s one of a kind and a great teacher. He does plenty of pleasure rides and is ridden five times a week. This helps keep the weight off and, also, he gets bored if he’s not being ridden. We took third place in Search for a Star at the Arena UK qualifier last year and now I’m delighted we’ve qualified at our first go this year.”
Your Horse Live qualifying classes
It was another great day out for the Kohl family from Leicestershire in the ridden Mountain and Moorland Search for a Star Your Horse Live qualifier. Following on her daughter Olivia’s win at the Stoneleigh qualifier, Louise Kohl and her own Welsh Section D, Menai Super Sovereign took the class in style. A delighted Louise said: “I’ve not been in the ring in over a year. He’s a five-year-old novice and I said we’ll give it a go. He was second in the working pony class with Olivia in the morning. We bought Menai Super Sovereign last April from Peter Jones at the Menai Stud. He loves his jumping and will do working hunter pony classes over the summer.” Louise’s daughter Olivia won the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland qualifier at Stoneleigh Park in May with her Welsh Section C pony, Thorneynewside Replay.
Adele Forster from Lancashire took second place in the ridden Mountain and Moorlands with her Welsh Section D pony, Dearnevalley Firefly. This pony is no stranger to the Search for a Star Your Horse Live finals having qualified twice previously with their best result being fourth place at the finals. Adele said: “It’s lucky we made it there, as he lost a shoe the day before and I had to take him to our farrier’s house at 7pm, having persuaded him to put it back on. It’s lucky it was worthwhile for him. I’m so pleased my mum was there with me, having missed out on seeing her pony qualify at the last Search for a Star qualifier, as she was recovering from an operation. Your Horse Live is going to be a busy day out for us.” Adele’s mother Christine Forster’s gypsy cob mare, Maddy of Penmore, qualified for Your Horse Live in the open ridden veteran class at Stoneleigh a few weeks earlier.
The one SEIB Search for a Star class open to all riders and not restricted to amateurs, the open ridden veteran class, was won by Jill Wormall’s Tri-Coloured gelding, Colour Coded. Jill said: “He was just foot perfect in there. Although he’s 16 now, he still thinks he’s a five-year-old and just doesn’t change. He’s unbeaten this season so far and he gave an outstanding performance today. He’s won the coloured class at most of the county shows across the country, including the Great Yorkshire and Royal International.”
Taking the runner-up spot in the open veterans was piebald mare Paris Party Girl and her owner and rider, Lisa Counsell. Lisa said: “She’s rising 20 this year but you’d never know. She loves to keep busy, and we’re off to Three Counties and the Royal International in the coloured class. She also loves her dressage, and we compete at Novice and Elementary level. She’s also off to a one-day event in a few weeks.” This pair also qualified for Your Horse Live in the open ridden veterans in 2023.
The second Search for a Star Pony Club qualifiers of the year saw some lovely Pony Club members and their ponies come forward. In the lead-rein class, ably judged by senior Search for a Star judge Richard Ramsay, six-year-old Molly Bowring and her mother Jessica Bowring’s Dartmoor Pony, Treworgan Titanium, took top spot. Known as Teddy at home, Treworgan Titanium is a five-year-old gelding and Jessica bought him as a two-year-old. She said: “We’ve done plenty of showing in-hand with Teddy – I also won the in-hand Mountain and Moorland Search for a Star class in the morning with him.” Jessica is a member of the South Nottinghamshire Branch of the Pony Club.
The Pony Club first ridden qualifier went to eight-year-old Emily Hiscox and her mother Heather Hiscox’s pony, Shilbrook Mr Holly (Duncan). Emily is no stranger to the Search for a Star Your Horse Live Championship having won the lead-rein finals and gone on to take the Supreme Search for a Star title there in 2022. Heather said: “It’s so lovely to be a part of this series. Emily is in her first season off the lead-rein and Duncan is just amazing. They like to go fast and do lots of jumping and camp and tiny tots showing.” Emily and Duncan are members of the North Warwickshire Pony Club.
In the open Search for a Star Pony Club qualifier, Penelope Lea and Corringdon Annabelle took first place. This was a very justified win as the pair won the Search for a Star open Pony Club qualifier at Stoneleigh but were subsequently disqualified owing to a passport irregularity. There was no stopping Penny and Annabelle at Vale View though. Thirteen-year-old Penelope said: “Annabelle is only five years old. She’s an Irish Draught and we’ve owned her for a year. We had a fantastic day out and I’m so glad we came back to Search for a Star. We will now do some one-day events and Pony Club camp.” Penny is a member of the North Shropshire Branch of the Pony Club.
Qualifying in second place for the Search for a Star Pony Club open championships was Isobella Carolan-Hall and her own Welsh Section D pony, Cilsane Dyminiad Helen, known as Mouse at home. Isobella said: “Mouse was her breeder, Helen’s pride and joy. I’ve been riding her for three years this August and we’ve been competing in jumping and working hunter classes up to 80 and 90cm. I had an accident last November and was badly concussed, which really rattled me. My accident wasn’t long after I joined the Quorn Hunt branch of the Pony Club and I have received wonderful support from both the members and volunteers which has really helped rebuild my confidence. Our DC Julie Mann has been brilliant. Since my accident, Mouse and I have been focusing on our flatwork and we qualified for the Pony Club Spring Dressage Festival and have been enjoying our flat showing. We’ve also got the Pony Club Area Dressage competition coming up. I’m currently on a year out working as a digital marketing intern for the Pony Club, but I will return to my last year studying digital marketing and data analytics at York St John University in September. It’s going to be a busy time preparing for Your Horse Live in November. I’m going to be doing a lot of travelling up and down.”
The Search for a Star in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob went to Donna Hoe with her sister Gemma Hoe’s 28-year-old chestnut gelding, Midnight’s Magic. A delighted Donna said: “He doesn’t act his age. He is my sister’s ex-showjumper, and he even jumped the 3ft 9ins fence into the garden the other week. With Gemma, he used to compete up to 1.30m level. We also qualified for the in-hand Search for a Star Finals at Your Horse Live in 2022 and took third place.”
In the in-hand plaited pony class, part-bred Welsh pony, Tambrook Prayer In C and his handler, Claire Crerand, took first place. A thrilled Claire, who runs In the Spotlight Rosettes, said: “We’d only had her a week. She’s spent two years out having a foal. I bought her to ride and compete in small hack classes and we thought this would be a good first outing in-hand to see how we got on. It’ll be a learning curve with her and I’m looking forward to getting to know her more and get used to her.”
Sarah Welfare and her own traditional cob gelding, Rags to Riches, won the in-hand native and traditional class. Sarah said: “Charlie went so well. He cost me £100 when I bought him at just eight months old. He’s now a nine-year-old and we show a few times a year, mainly at local shows. He enjoys in-hand showing but not being ridden in the ring. A friend rides him out at home and on farm rides and he loves that. I work as a health and safety consultant and have six ponies that I fit in around this. They live in a private rented yard and I look after them all myself.”
The in-hand veteran class went to 26-six-year-old Randall IV and his owner and handler, Lucy Ashworth. Randall has done brilliantly in the Your Horse Live Search for a Star In-Hand Finals before in 2022 and 2023. Lucy said: “Randall is looking better than ever and is still in regular work. Our horses have to stay in in the winter, so he’s used to his routine and it keeps him happy and healthy. He has qualified for the Veteran Horse Society Championships both in-hand and ridden and has also qualified for RIHS in-hand this season.” Randall IV and Lucy have also qualified for the Search for a Star In-Hand Plaited Horse and Hogged Show Cob Your Horse Live finals this year.

Photo: Kevin Sparrow Photography. Caption: 26-six-year-old Randall IV and his owner and handler, Lucy Ashworth
The second ever British Riding Clubs (BRC) Search for a Star class is open to members of BRC affiliated riding clubs who are also amateur showing riders. It was second time lucky for the winners, Daisy Beards and her grey gelding, Spinway Colm. This pair won this class a few weeks earlier but were disqualified owing to a passport irregularity. The class at Vale View went off for Daisy and Colm without a hitch and they took their ticket in fine style. Daisy, who’s a member of Stoneleigh Riding Club, said: “My sister saw this new Search for a Star class on Facebook so we decided to come along and give it a go. You don’t have to belong to a show society, so it makes it nice and straightforward, and we thought it would be a bit of fun for both me and Colm. We compete in eventing, riding club competitions, Prelim level dressage and showjumping. Colm loves cross-country. He’s a 14.2hh Connemara and I’ve owned him for about seven years. I’m studying agriculture at Hartpury University but I come home as often as I can to ride Colm.”
SEIB Search for a Star organiser Nicolina MacKenzie said: “On the whole, we had a positive day at Vale View. The vast majority of competitors enter into our shows and come along to do their best, hope to learn something, take some advice away and maybe return and improve on their previous performances. Search for a Star is designed to be a welcoming platform where we are courteous, polite and do our best to help one other out – including both our competitors and our organising team. These are values that we will continue to uphold and are key to everyone having an enjoyable time at our Search for a Star shows.”
SEIB Search for a Star first took place back in 1996 and, over the years, has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at HOYS with many going on to compete with success in open classes.
Each of the SEIB Search for a Star qualifying shows offers opportunities for a full range of show horses to earn a place at the series championships at HOYS and Your Horse Live.
Visit seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates or to enter, visit seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule.