Home-producers and their horses and ponies took to the stage at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to contend the 2023 SEIB Search For A Star classes. But which combinations impressed the judges and got to enjoy their bucket list lap of honour under the spotlights?
Meet the 2023 SEIB Search For A Star class winners here:
SEIB SFAS working pony
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Lochân Beag Rôgaire (Finnbar) is a Connemara who has evented up to BE novice level with his owner/rider Rebecca Giles, who works full-time as a livestock transporter.
Finnbar came from Ireland as a three-year-old for Rebecca to sell on, but he is still with her eight years later.
SEIB SFAS riding horse
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Symphony Of Kings (Sid), ridden by his owner Holly Gray, is an ex-racehorse. Holly, who works as a cleaner, was gifted Sid five years ago.
A few years ago, Sid had an accident and fell over injuring his hock. At one point the vet advised for him to be put down, but with box rest and patience he made a full recovery.
SEIB SFAS traditional cob
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Billy Wilson (Winky) is owned by his rider, Kelly Driver. Kelly entered him in some SFAS qualifiers this season after getting the showing bug while showing her ex-racehorse last season in SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers.
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The traditional gelding was bred by Kelly’s late uncle, Billy Wilson, and he even went to his funeral.
Kelly juggles horses around running her business, Event and Park Services Ltd, which runs reindeer displays and donkey rides.
SEIB SFAS show cob
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Dog groomer Lisa Hardy bought Cortina as a two-year-old with the dream of getting him to HOYS one day. The gelding is now five, and he is only contesting his first full season in the show ring.
SEIB SFAS hack
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Bassingfield Dark Secret (Zeus) owned by Helen Church and ridden by Jennifer Church, is a second generation home-bred.
This has been the pair’s first season showing and Jennifer, an equine vet, has also started riding Zeus side-saddle.
Mein Rebel and Harriet Johnson, who works as an importer of fruit and vegetables, first competed in the SFAS series back in 2019. They finished third in the hunter classes.
Harriet bought her gelding from the Goresbridge sales in Ireland as a four-year-old and thepair also go hunting and jumping.
SEIB SFAS show hunter
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Killycloghan Masterson, shown by his owner Hayley Came-Boyce, won the show hunter class en route to finishing reserve in the championship.
The Kings Master six-year-old has only been lightly shown and he qualified for HOYS on his first attempt.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
