Jill Wormall and Colour Coded, a 17-year-old tri coloured gelding, were among the winners at the SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live qualifiers at Hartpury College last month after they triumphed in the 19-strong open ridden veteran class.
Tickets for Your Horse Live, which will take place at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 7 – Sunday 9 November 2025, are on sale now. Alongside hosting the SEIB Search for a Star Championships, British dressage star Becky Moody will also be giving demonstrations with more riders, acts and entertainment to be announced over the coming months.
“He’s like a bottle of wine – he just gets better as he gets older! He was foot-perfect in there. He still thinks he’s a five-year-old and just doesn’t change,” said Jill.
The runners-up in the open veteran class were Monmouthshire Pony Club members Georgia Reynolds and her 17-year-old Welsh Section B gelding, Moelgarnedd Arthur.
In-hand amateur veteran
In the in-hand amateur veteran class, victory went to Emma Knight and the 20-year-old Newoak Allspice who was bred by Joyce Newberry at the New Oak Stud
“We’ve owned Spice since she was a five-year-old, over the years we’ve shown her as a part-bred Arab,” explained Emma.
“She’s won at Devon County and been champion at Honiton Show and the North Devon Show. Now her main job is to be a leader for our point to pointers at home. She helped a lot with a horse called Road to Success several years ago – he went on to win.”
In-hand mountain and moorland
Estate agent Alexandra Whitell piloted her Fell pony, Kalmara Felicity, into first pace in the in-hand mountain and moorland class.
“I had no expectations today but I’m delighted. I bought her a year ago as a companion having never had hairy ponies before,” said Alexandra.
“We went to a few shows last year and came third at Devon County, second at Royal Cornwall and first at the Kingsbridge Show. She’s ridden at home and ideally one day we will show her under saddle. Felicity loves going to the beach.”
Mountain and moorland
Welsh Section C pony, Rhydypandy Modonna and his rider, Chelsey Furze took top spot in the mountain and moorland class.
Owned by Pat Kaye the chestnut pony has been on full loan to Chelsey since he was a yearling.
“He went amazingly today, it’s a super result for us. I’ve done everything myself with him and we also compete in dressage together. I’m really excited about going to Your Horse Live, I went there when I was a student and it will be great to go back,” said Chelsey.
Sarah Hobbs and Wishaw Ellie May, who qualified for Your Horse Live in this class last year, took the runner-up spot.
Lead rein Pony Club
In the lead rein Pony Club class, it was four-year-old Mollie Warner and Amanda Nevin’s Welsh Section A pony, Waitwith Windfall who took the spoils.
“We’ve had Woody for a couple of months and we couldn’t have found a better first pony,” said Mollie’s mum.
First ridden
Another Molly in the ribbons was 11-year-old Molly Thould who piloted Gurnos Welsh Curious George, a Welsh section C, into top spot in the first ridden class.
“We’ve had George for a year and a half, we do everything together including showjumping, arena eventing, dressage, fun rides and camp,” said the Crickhowell and District Pony Club member.
Open Pony Club
Jessica Carter is no stranger to qualifying for the Search for a Star Your Horse Live Championship having qualified last year with her Appaloosa pony, Henry. This year she will return to Stoneleigh Park aboard Rhydypandy Tom Jones after the pair triumphed in the open Pony Club class.
“We’ve owned Tom Jones for two years. We’ve been to Pony Club camp and rallies. We also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show last year in the 133cm working hunter pony class,” said Jessica.
In-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob
The Search for a Star in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob class was awarded to Lilian Vaughan Thomas from Haverfordwest and her own 11-year-old chestnut gelding, Moyglen Gold, known at home as Parker.
“I’m gobsmacked to have won this. I show my young horses in-hand but this is something different. I’ve owned Parker since he was five years old,” said Lilian.
British Riding Clubs
Stacey Mitchell and her Fell pony, Ancaladh Wilf, topped the line-up in the British Riding Clubs class which is open to members of BRC affiliated Riding Clubs that are also amateur showing riders.
“He went really well today and did everything asked of him. We mainly compete in working hunter classes although we qualified for the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland championship at Your Horse Live a few years ago and we’ve also competed at the London International Horse Show,” said the Lakes Riding Club member.
In-hand rare, native and traditional breeds
Two new classes taking place this year are the SEIB Search for a Star in-hand rare, native and traditional breeds qualifier and the Search for a Star in-hand rescue horse or pony.
The former had entries which included traditional gypsy cobs, a British Percheron and a Fell pony and was won by a three-year-old Cleveland Bay, Bahain Terminator, and his owner and handler, Emily Fisher.
“I love the Cleveland Bay breed, they are so versatile and if they trust you they’ll give you all they’ve got,” said Emily, who bought ‘Arnie’ from a photo when he was just nine months old.
“I do a lot to promote the Cleveland Bay breed and saw this new Search for a Star class so thought why not come along. Arnie has absorbed the atmosphere here today, we will break him in next year. Cleveland Bays take a long time to mature and it’s lovely to have the chance to come out to show people the breed.
“Cleveland Bays are on the rare breeds critical list, if we don’t support the breeders, the Cleveland Bay breed will die out.”
In-hand rescue horse or pony
Eight rescue horses and ponies came forward for the inaugural in-hand rescue horse or pony class which is run in association with the Rescue Equine Showing Society.
Storm Cloud, a Dartmoor pony exhibited by 14-year-old Lucia Carruthers from Truro were crowned champions.
“I’m so proud of him today and really proud of the progress he has made,” said Lucia’s mum Kerry.
“Storm Cloud came in on the drift from Dartmoor when he was six months old and on realising his poor condition, the Mare and Foal Sanctuary took him into their care. The sanctuary were so honest about him when we went to see him which was great as it meant we knew what we were taking on.
“We have to really respect his space. Both Storm Cloud and Lucia have helped each other out. Lucia has autism and a visual impairment – they’ve both needed each other over the last few years.”
Lucia added: “He will stay with us forever, I’m too tall to ride him now but we will continue showing in-hand.”
Impressive start to the season
SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie was thrilled with the standard in the first qualifiers of the year which saw 250 competitors vying for a place at the finals.
The judging team included Richard Ramsay, Samantha DeCaprio, Nicki Taylor, Louise Gaunt, Emma Jackson, Amanda Gomersall, Jordan Cook and Ali Tate.
“What a start to the season for Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse. There was such a positive atmosphere at Hartpury and the standard of horses and ponies coming forward was fabulous to see,” said Nicolina.
“The new Search for a Star in-hand rescue horse and pony class got off to a tremendous start, we are delighted to be working with Cathy Hyde at the Rescue Equine Showing Society.
“We were also delighted to see a Cleveland Bay winning the new rare, native and traditional breeds class. Anything we can do to showcase these breeds and help protect their future is great for everyone concerned.”
Images © 1st Class Images.
