A surprise Christmas present, a part time Princess and a mud-loving mare were among the winners at the first SEIB Search For A Star qualifier of the year which took place at the Wiltshire Show on Friday 27 March.
In a change to the series this year, all the qualifying classes were run in conjunction with another show.
Another significant change to qualifying events means only one combination will qualify for the chance to compete in either the Horse of the Year Show or Your Horse Live Search for a Star championships in each qualifying class. This means the series is able to offer more qualifying shows across a wider selection of venues.
Tickets for Your Horse Live, which will take place at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 6 – Sunday 8 November 2026, are on sale now.
In-hand veteran horse or pony
Nicola Weynburg and her 28-year-old Connemara pony, Mickey, had plenty to celebrate when they won the in-hand veteran horse or pony class as they not only qualified for Your Horse Live but it was also both horse and riders’ birthday.
“It’s our 20th year together. All those years ago Mickey was a surprise Christmas present from my mum – he was hidden in a stable,” said Nicola who works at Airbus Defence.
“We’ve done plenty of showjumping and eventing. He used to be a great puissance pony and has jumped 4’10”. These days his ridden career has slowed down and we’ve done some senior showing classes but he still loves going out to a show.”
In-hand pure-bred traditional cob
The pure-bred section of the in-hand traditional cob class was won by Paige Macauley and Prince JR.
“I’m speechless. We’ve never done showing before. He looked after me in there,” said Paige.
“I’ve owned Prince for four months and my day job is hosting princess parties for kids. I’m the princess and he’s my prince! I have the most amazing job, it’s our family business and we work a lot with the Prince’s Trust and Sophie’s Legacy.”
Open ridden veteran
Healthcare administrator Daniella Girvan piloted the 19-year-old grey mare On A High Touch into first place in the open ridden veteran class, the one SEIB Search for a Star class which is open to all riders and not restricted to amateurs.
“We started veteran classes last year and decided we would give the Search for a Star Your Horse Live classes a go this year. I didn’t think we’d qualify first time out,” said Daniella, who has owned ‘Piglet’ for seven years.
“As well as loving showing and jumping she’s also keen on food and rolling in mud!”
In-hand Mountain and Moorland
Geronimo of Catchpool, a Shetland pony who is known at home as Gerry, and his handler Heidi Walgate topped the in-hand Mountain and Moorland qualifier.
“Gerry is one of the family. He loves hunting and jumping too, he’s shared by my four children and now me,” said Heidi.
“This was our first show together and Gerry has the best temperament and so much character. My youngest is disabled and has epilepsy, she’s lost her voice but is absolutely smitten with Gerry.”
Mountain and Moorland
The Mountain and Moorland class was awarded to Lauren Allsopp and Murthwaite Lucky Lad II whose stable name is Sooty.
Lauren describes the 14-year-old Fell pony as like a pair of ‘faithful slippers’.
“We bought Sooty from his breeders at the Murthwaite Stud when he was a two-year-old, we stumbled across him really,” explained Lauren who works for the local authority.
“He was originally my mum’s pony and we broke him to drive before later swapping into showing and eventing.
“I did Search for a Star when I was 11 or 12-years-old in the Show Hunter pony class. We were always knocking on the door but never actually qualified so decided to come for a spin here today.”
In-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob
Ex-racehorse, Chronos, and his handler Amanda Jones won the in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob class.
“This is his first show. He’s a great mover and has been off the track for 18 months. He ran over hurdles – very badly 12 times. We will eventually aim to compete in ridden showing classes with him,” said Amanda.
Amanda is no stranger to success in Search for a Star in-hand classes. In 2023, she won this class with her other horse, Be The Holy Man.
In-hand plaited pony and lead rein pony
Gabriella Jordan Ford’s Welsh section A pony, Llanai Curtsey, won both the in-hand plaited pony and lead rein pony classes. Delilah Coombs was the jockey in the lead rein qualifier.
In-hand part bred traditional cob
The in-hand part bred traditional cob class is a new addition for 2026 and the first qualifiers were Rochelle Green riding her sister, Allana Green’s Kincullia Major.
“We weren’t expecting to win. This is my first time showing him and we were winging it,” said Rochelle.
“Allana has owned him for the last five years. He came from Ireland originally and was totally unhandled, he did a whole year of groundwork before anything else.”
Kincullia Major took second place in the Search for a Star HOYS cob finals with Allana and also and has competed at the London International Horse Show.
First ridden
The first ridden class was won by eight-year-old Isabella Dobson and the Welsh Section A mare, Tryfel Royal Princess.
“At our first show together last year she injured herself so this is our first proper season together,” said Izzy who has been riding Tryfel Royal Princess for 18 months.
The South Trent Pony Club members also compete in Working Hunter Pony classes and London International Horse Show qualifiers.
Open Pony Club pony
Monmouthshire Pony Club members Georgia Reynolds and the 18-year-old Moelgarnedd Arthur, who is owned by Alison White, triumphed in the open Pony Club Pony qualifier.
The pair qualified for Your Horse Live in the Still A Star Open Veteran class in 2025 but owing to an injury couldn’t contest the finals.
“I thought we had no chance today. Arthur is great, we have been competing in everything from dressage and showing to endurance. We’re also doing the Pony Club Hacking and Endurance Challenge,” said Georgia.
Riding Club show horse or pony
Mynydd RC’s Rosa Cartwright and the 13-year-old Greenvale Don Legend were the winners of the Riding Club show horse or pony qualifier.
Rosa has owned ‘Donny’, a Hanoverian/Welsh Part-Bred, since he was a yearling.
Racehorse to Riding Horse
The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier was awarded to Marina Greenaway riding Donna Bamonte’s seven-year-old bay mare, Hagar, who is known at home as Hazel.
Donna lost her husband, Perry, on Christmas Eve 2025.
“I had a few months when I stayed away from the horses. My team at home have been amazing, this was a last-minute team effort,” said Donna.
“We saw the qualifier was on here a month ago so it was only then that we decided to get Hazel in and up and running.
“In that time she’s been clipped, out hacking and practising in indoor schools. I told myself I can’t stay at home and I’ve got to get out.
“Hazel has been placed in nearly every qualifier she’s been to. I never thought we’d get another horse as good as Valentine Jak again. Hazel came from Bryan and Vicky Smart who I’m very good friends with.”
‘Absolutely delighted’
“I was absolutely delighted to host the SEIB SFAS and YHL classes at the Wiltshire Spring Show for the very first time this year,” said Vincent Seddon, Wiltshire Show organiser.
“These prestigious classes brought an exciting new dimension to the show. The classes were very popular and the feedback has been positive. It was a pleasure to welcome new combinations and we look forward to building on this success in future years.”
Images © 1st Class Images.
