A delighted Imogen Key and her much-loved pony Twyford Gyro took the overall supreme championship at the 2026 SEIB Search for a Star Championships at Your Horse Live, capping a memorable day (6 November) with a unanimous decision from the judges.

The young rider from Warwickshire, who had earlier claimed the first ridden championship, followed by the overall ridden supreme title, could scarcely believe her success as she stood adorned with rosettes and sashes following the final presentation.

“I’m very proud of him, and very excited to tell my friends at a sleepover tonight,” said Imogen, who admitted that nerves had almost got the better of her during the supreme championship.

“I was just shaking,” she said. “I saw the other competitors going round and thought, ‘I don’t think I’ve got this.’ Then suddenly they called my number out and I was just shocked.”

The partnership had endured a particularly long day, having taken to the main arena for the first ridden championship earlier this morning. But Twyford Gyro, who is owned by Sue Cubitt-Smith, showed no signs of tiring, impressing the judges with his manners, attitude and willingness to please.

For Imogen her pony is a treasured character with a few particular likes and dislikes.

Describing him as occasionally rather fussy, she explained that he knows exactly what he wants and is not always keen on having his routine changed.

Despite his quirks, Twyford Gyro’s kind nature and obvious enjoyment of his job shone through in the championship, earning warm praise from the judging panel of Nigel Hollings, Chris Hunnable and Mathew Lawrence.

Chris emphasised the importance of a child’s first ridden pony and the lasting influence such a pony can have on a young rider’s future.

“A first ridden pony is such an important pony for any child,” Chris said. “This is the one that makes them decide whether they like riding or whether they’d rather have a bicycle or a motorbike.

“And look at him. He’s just loved his day. He’s made somebody very, very happy, and he is very, very happy doing what he’s done.

“He’s a beautiful pony, amazingly well mannered, and I’m sure this rider has gained so much confidence from riding him. It’s lovely.”

Imogen’s riding also came in for particular praise, with Mathew highlighting the quality of the partnership and the confidence that comes from having a dependable pony beneath a young rider.

“Imogen rides beautifully,” Mathew said, acknowledging the importance of good training alongside having a pony of Twyford Gyro’s calibre.

For Nigel, the deciding factor in his decision was that Twyford Gyro was precisely the sort of pony they would trust with his own child.

“I have a 30-year-old daughter, and she did first ridden,” Nigel explained. “The most important thing for me is that I would put my daughter on this pony every day of the week.”

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