A horse and rider on their way back from injury, a swimming teacher and a former champion secure Your Horse Live qualification

Home / News / A horse and rider on their way back from injury, a swimming teacher and a former champion secure Your Horse Live qualification

Among those punching their tickets to Your Horse Live at the latest qualifying competition at Arena UK were a combination who are battling back from injury, a swimming teacher, and a rider who is no stranger to success in the SEIB Search for a Star Championships.

Bumper entries of over 250 competitors flocked to the Lincolnshire venue last month to attempt to qualify for Your Horse Live, which will take place at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 7 – Sunday 9 November 2025.

Alongside hosting the SEIB Search for a Star Championships, British dressage star Becky Moody will also be giving demonstrations, Oliver Townend and Geoff Billington will entertain the crowds and renowned horse trainer Emma Massingale will bring her team of Connemaras and Shetland ponies to show her training methods.

Tickets for Your Horse Live are on sale now.

Mountain and Moorland

Hayley Dolby and her 16-year-old Welsh Section D gelding, Pendancer Mickey Bricks, who are both on the comeback trail from injury, won the Mountain and Moorland class.

“Mickey went nicely today, he had an injury and is just getting back to being right again,” said Hayley, who has owned Mickey since he was a just weaned foal.

“I’ve been off too and have just recovered from a spinal injury so all we’ve been doing is hacking – it’s ages since we went to a show.”

Hayley works in IT learning and development.

Deborah Spencer and the Fell pony Bracklinn Avenger took the runner-up spot.

British Riding Clubs

Swimming teacher Charlotte Clorley piloted Castle Warrior, a Connemara pony known at home as Cliff, to first place in the British Riding Clubs class.

“We mainly compete in showing and riding club activities. He is such a good boy and my eight-year-old niece even rides him,” said Charlotte.

“We also qualified for STARS in the show hunter pony class.

“I’ve owned Cliff for nine years. He came from the Barrowby Stud and we are members of the Macclesfield & District Riding Club.

“I fit Cliff in around my work as a swimming teacher. I teach everyone from three-year-old up to adults to swim.”

In-hand Mountain and Moorland

Claire Crerand is no stranger to success at Your Horse Live having won the in-hand plaited pony title last year with Tambrook Prayer in C. This time she qualified the Shetland pony, Acresdale Major, in the in-hand Mountain and Moorland class.

“I’ve owned Acresdale Major since he was two weeks old,” said Claire.

“He’s always been a little baby although he’s four now and has been backed this year. We’ll find a lead-rein jockey for him and I’ll ride him in open classes. He came to me as a companion and I’m so excited he’s now off to Your Horse Live.”

Open ridden veteran

Victoria Littlewood piloted Moss Town Marz to top spot in the open veteran class.

Victoria Littlewood and the 29-year-old Moss Town Marz had a successful day after they triumphed in both the open ridden veteran and the amateur in-hand veteran.

“I can’t believe we’ve gone and done the double whammy,” said Victoria, who has owned Marz since he was six years old.

“He’s amazing. The last 18 months he’s battled both laminitis and colic and we’ve fought to get back riding. I got his heart checked by the vet before coming here today as you can’t be too careful, but he is absolutely fine.

“We’ve done so much over the years. We’ve hunted for 10 seasons with the bloodhounds and shown in small hunter classes winning locally and a county level and in the SSADL veteran series. Marz is the most faithful friend anyone could have.”

Occupying the runner-up spot in the open veteran class was Charlotte Cooper with Kildromin Star, a grey 17-year-old Connemara who she has owned for 13 years.

Pony Club open

Victory in the Pony Club open was awarded to Francesca Dance and the piebald mare, Coral Colour, who is known at home as Tilly.

“She originally came from Dublin and then had been with a pony club family in Northamptonshire,” said Francesca’s mum Sarah Dance.

“I was on my way up to the Midlands for a meeting which was cancelled so I decided to re-route and pop in to see Tilly and bought her on the spot.

“Francesca and Tilly are in the Vine Pony Club and they also do lots of riding club things too including plenty of dressage,”

Francesca, who is 15, and Tilly came second in the open ridden veteran class in the qualifier at Stoneleigh earlier this year.

In-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob

First place in the in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob was presented to Hannah Brown and the Selle Francais gelding We Ride At Dawn.

“We came second at Greenlands last time out so I was hoping we’d do well today,” said Hannah who works for the NHS.

“I bought We Ride At Dawn when he was five months old with the intention of him being a companion to another horse and maybe to hack about.

“My other horse was kicked though and is having to have the summer off so we have got going with We Ride At Dawn.

“We’ve also done STARS in-hand and been to Aintree.

“We’re aiming to compete in ridden novice hunter classes in 2026 and we thought Search for a Star would be a good step up on our way.”

In-hand plaited pony

Lilly Stewart and the 12-year-old Firecracker Charlie came out on top in the in-hand plaited pony.

“You never know what the judge will like and there are always beautiful ponies forward,” said Lilly’s mum, Sharon Barth.

“Lilly and Charlie came second in it last year at Arena UK, so to win this year was fantastic.

“We’ve owned Charlie for six years now, he came to us as a blank canvass. He had been broken in 18 months prior but had been turned away. We had to start again with him.

“He was very nervous and Lilly has worked so hard with him to gain his trust and the bond they have is beautiful.

“Lilly and Charlie also do flat ridden classes and have done a bit of dressage in the past. Charlie much prefers to do in-hand as he adores Lilly being next to him as she is his comfort blanket. He gets quite anxious.

“Lilly is really hands on and very good at seeing to Charlie. She gets up before school to see to him and ride if we are short on time. The only thing she doesn’t do for him is plait him up as she hasn’t learned how to do that job yet.”

In-hand rare, native and traditional breeds

Kimberley Morton and the Cleveland Bay, Braithewaite Countryman triumphed in the in-hand rare, native and traditional breeds class.

“We do a bit of showing when we can – I wasn’t expecting to win on the day at all but I’m delighted that we’ll be off to Your Horse Live,” said Kimberley who works as a careers advisor.

“I take Disco, as we call him, out in-hand to support the breed, it’s great to take the opportunities when you can.

“My main focus with Disco is to get out under saddle. We’ve been having quite a good year so far.

“At Equifest we got through to one of the ridden evening performances in the hunter classes and we took second to the King’s horse at Royal Windsor. He also won the in-hand class at the Great Yorkshire this season.

“I bought Disco when he was six months old. I went to buy a four-year-old small hunter, my mum said to get a part-bred Cleveland Bay and I bought a six-month-old purebred who is more of a heavyweight hunter.”

In-hand rescue horse and pony

Clare Castle and the traditional cob, Minnie, emerged victorious in the in-hand rescue horse and pony class.

“We originally fostered Minnie for six months from the RSPCA. When we first got her we went to the place where she was, there were two ponies there and they ran to the back of the stable,” explained Clare’s mum, Lynda.

“I turned my back to avoid eye contact and not be a threat to the ponies. Minnie was the one that came and sniffed my hand so we knew she was the one coming back with us.

“After we’d had Minnie for six months, the RSPCA put her up for adoption and me and my daughter knew we had to keep her. She won’t ever be going anywhere.

“Over the six years we’ve had Minnie, her confidence has improved lots, she can sometimes still be nervous around other horses, particularly black and white stallions. I don’t think she’ll ever completely get over this.

“She loves the showring though and is placed every time out – at county shows and even Hickstead! It’s great to see her doing so well – she especially enjoys the atmosphere at indoor shows.

“This is the first year the Search for a Star Rescue class has run so we decided to come along and support it and now we’re really looking forward to Your Horse Live.”

Taking second place in this class were Kerry Whiteman and her own Welsh Section A pony, Coedbach Ivan, who was rehomed from Bransby Horses.

“Relaxed atmosphere”

“There was such a relaxed atmosphere all day at Arena UK with plenty of happy horses and ponies and their riders and handlers,” said SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie.

“Thanks as always to our fabulous team of judges and stewards who give so much back through offering guidance, support and kindness to all our competitors.”