AN amateur rider from Haverfordwest, Grace Gibbon, and her horse, The Granite Way have qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October.

They had a 12.30am start for the journey to Pickering Grange in Leicestershire for the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier on 15 June. 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 Michaela Bowling and Samantha DeCaprio to earn their HOYS qualification.

Chartered surveyor Grace said: "This is the only HOYS qualifier we have done together! My mum and I work full time but we both were off today so we decided to give it a go.

“My mum and I share Fern, as we call The Granite Way at home, and we all aim to go out and have fun and anything else is a bonus.

“It's brilliant to have this opportunity! I'd moved away for university and work and not ridden for 10 years.

“Then mum and I decided to get back into the horses.

“Fern came from a family friend Sarah Gould. He is brilliant - my mum takes him to West Wales Riding Club every week too.

“I did Search for a Star when I was 12 back in 2009 with my Show Hunter Pony, Small Land Screen Play and we took 4th place.

“Having read the rules recently I realised I could now come back to give it another go.”

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