An amateur rider from Fishguard, Hannah Jenkins, and her horse, Le Paz have qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October.

Hannah and her striking grey, Le Paz - known as Balou at home - made the long trip to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire for the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier on the 25th May. They will now go on to compete under the bright lights of the HOYS Arena at the NEC in Birmingham in early October.

The pair competed in and won the Working Horse class under top judges Nicola Taylor and Richard Ramsay to earn their HOYS qualification.

Hannah and Le Paz narrowly missed out on qualification last month when they took runner up spot in the Search for a Star qualifier at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire. Hannah explained: "Hartpury was originally the only qualifier I could do, I work as an intensive care nurse and after we came second there, I thought I'm going to have to try again now and managed to swap my shifts around so we could come here today!

“Balou came to me on loan from my best friend who bred him. I had twin boys and she knew I got on with Balou and wanted to help me get back in the saddle so he came to stay and has never left. I've now owned him since last summer. I love him to bits!"

SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: "Search for a Star is all about the journey and learning and improving over time. Our team of judges and stewards are all invested in providing support and encouragement to help competitors and their horses and ponies perform to the best level they can."

SEIB Search for a Star first took place back in 1996 and over the years has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at HOYS.

Each of the SEIB Search for a Star qualifying shows offers opportunities for a full range of show horses to earn a place at the series championships at Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live.

Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please visit www.seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule which will link directly to the Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse entry page on Showing Scene.

SEIB have been providing expert insurance services for over 60 years. Renowned for their specialist equestrian insurance, SEIB offers tailored cover for horses, horseboxes, trailers, riders, and equestrian businesses, ensuring comprehensive protection and peace of mind.

For more information on their range of services and to explore their bespoke insurance solutions, please visit seib.co.uk