“We think showing is her thing!” – in-hand champion title at amateur championships for showing convert mare

Five worthy winners battled it out to be crowned in-hand champion at the SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live finals, but it was Finn Williamson and his plaited mare, Port Lou Lou who came out on top

The in-hand classes proved popular at the SEIB Search for a Star finals held at Your Horse Live, and out of the veteran, native and traditional, mountain and moorland, plaited horse and plaited pony classes, it was the plaited horse winner who won the crown. This was Port Lou Lou, shown by 15-year-old Finn Williamson.

15-year-old Finn said: “I have been so nervous this week. It was amazing to win yesterday and then she was brilliant today. We cracked on and it all went brilliantly.

“I’ve got my GCSEs coming up next year and we hope to do some intermediate classes. After the great time we’ve had this season, we think showing is her thing!”

Finn and Port Lou Lou were Search for a Star HOYS finalists in the riding horse hack championship at Horse of the Year Show last month.

Conformation judge Matthew Lawrence said of Port Lou Lou: “As soon as this mare entered the ring I thought she was a great type. She has a lovely way of going with fabulous cadence and has been beautifully produced by her handler.”

In-hand veteran winner, Lucy Ashworth and Randall IV

Lucy Ashworth and her own 24-year-old gelding, Randall IV, won the in-hand veteran final. The former showjumper, who competed internationally up to 1.30m in his former career, also qualified in the plaited horse in-hand final. Lucy was diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer this time last year and admitted that she never thought she’d be back showing this year, but, delighted, she added, “it’s just brilliant to have got my life back a bit.”

In-hand native and traditional winner, Lucy Parr and Milnerfield Lady Isabelle

The largest winner of the in-hand classes was Shire mare, Milnerfield Lady Isabelle, who won the in-hand native and traditional championship for her handler, Lucy Parr. Issy, as the mare is known, is everything to Lucy who said: “All I wanted when I came along to the qualifier was to get her out and help raise the profile of the breed,” said Lucy, “but we’ve achieved so much more! We put in plenty of time and effort and Issy’s so versatile. She rides, drives and hopefully we’ll also breed from her.”

Breeding is a particular focus for the Shire breed society, who with only 800 breeding mares saw just 250 foals registered in. With more access to artificial insemination, which means access to more stallions, there’s a real push to expand the gene pool of the Shire horse.

In-hand mountain and moorland winner, Judith Hogg and Lachlann of Croila Croft

The in-hand mountain and moorland (M&M) winner, Lachlann of Croila Croft, had traveled all the way down from the Scottish Highlands with his owner and handler, Judith Hogg. Lachlann of Croila Croft is only five years old. Judith said: “He’s never seen anything like this before! He was broken in this spring and has been to several outside shows. We realised at the beginning of this week that he’s scared of clapping so had to quickly remedy that.”

Lachlann of Croila Croft is also broken to traditional hill work in the Highlands. Judith continued: “His hill work involves carrying hinds and fallows down the hill to the larder. It’s a very traditional thing to do and ensures the hill is looked after. There aren’t many places that this still takes place. He will have a short holiday now and then carry out some more hill work through the winter.”

Judith and Lachlan of Croila Croft also competed in the ridden M&M championship where they finished in second place.

In-hand plaited pony winner, Lisa Hayyez and Ryehill Petit Ami

Bay mare, Ryehill Petit Ami won the in-hand plaited pony championship for her handler Lisa Hayyez. Five-year-old Ryehill Petit Ami has been owned by Lisa since last May. Lisa said: “I am over the moon with her today, this is her first proper season going to shows and even to qualify was amazing! We came today with no expectations and as a schooling exercise. We plan to bring her out as a lead rein pony next year and this will have helped her experience hugely.”

Top results from the in-hand classes were as follows…

IN-HAND VETERAN

1. Randall IV, owned and exhibited by Lucy Ashworth from Oxfordshire
2. Woodview Ingot, owned and exhibited by Hollie Thomas from Birmingham
3. Midnight Magic, owned by Gemma Hoe and exhibited by Donna Hoe from St Helens

IN-HAND NATIVE AND TRADITIONAL

1. Milnerfield Lady Isabelle, owned and exhibited by Lucy Parr from Yorkshire
2. World Horse Welfare Paolo, owned and exhibited by Grace Willis from Essex
3. Razzle Dazzle Them owned by Sue Baker and exhibited by Brooke Baker from West Sussex

IN-HAND MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND

1. Lachlann of Croila Croft, owned and exhibited by Judith Hogg from Crieff, Scotland
2. Amilas Slumberdown, owned by Jo Stewart and exhibited by Michelle Prentice from Hertfordshire
3. Collstone Perfect Storm owned and exhibited by Jamie Clarke from Birmingham

IN-HAND PLAITED PONY

1. Ryehill Petit Ami, owned and exhibited by Lisa Hayyez from Buckinghamshire
2. Romanno Royal Myth, owned by Victoria Bryan and exhibited by Molly Bryan from Staffordshire
3. Rhos Elodie owned and exhibited by Sam Crutchlow from Warwickshire

IN-HAND PLAITED HORSE AND HOGGED SHOW COB

1. Port Lou Lou, owned by Kirsty Wilson and exhibited by Finn Williamson from Cheshire
2. West Country Samurai, owned and exhibited by Suzi Ayres from Ayrshire
3. Randall IV owned and exhibited by Lucy Ashworth from Oxfordshire