SEIB Search for a Star & Racehorse to Riding Horse 2026 at the BSHA Spring Show
The third qualifying show for the 2026 running of SEIB Insurance Brokers’ Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) championship took place on Sunday 3rd May at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Spring Show at Addington Equestrian. There were four HOYS qualifying Search for a Star classes and an SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier on the day which saw a total of five combinations win coveted HOYS tickets.
This is the first time that the BHSA have hosted SEIB qualifiers at their Spring Show, Sarah Carey, BSHA Spring & National Championship Show Director commented: “The BSHA are delighted to support SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB’s Racehorse to Riding Horse series this year at both our Spring and National Championship shows. We are always happy to welcome new competitors to showing and to support animals moving on from a racing career.”
HOYS Qualifying Classes
The SEIB Search for a Star Show Hunter class went to Kate Andrews from Medstead, Hampshire riding her gelding, Global Smart Choice, known as Smartie. Kate said: “Smartie is an amazing horse, I used to show but haven’t for a very long time and we decided last year to give it a go. We have a lovely local agricultural show – the Alresford Show so along we went and won the Small Hunter and the Lightweight Hunter before taking the championship! There was great excitement as our wins meant we qualified for the London International Horse Show where we came third! I then decided we’d do a few Search for a Star Shows and now we’ve qualified on our first go!
“I did Search for a Star in 2012 and took 5th place in the Riding Club Show Horse class. It was such a special experience and an amazing opportunity for me as an amateur rider to have a day in the lights! It’s fantastic that SEIB provides such an opportunity with a realistic goal. I’m also hoping to compete at Windsor and South of England Show this year as I’ve not ridden at either for years.” Kate shares Smartie with her son Will who competes him in Pony Club and Schools Riding competitions. Smartie and Kate also compete in dressage and are working toward Medium level. Kate runs a private investment trustee company.
In the Riding Horse Hack class the win went to another former Search for a Star competitor Lucia Thomas from Brecon riding her small hack, Dowhills Belle Baie, known as Poppy. Lucia said: “We went to Search for a Star when Poppy was five, she was a bit too green, we came back for one qualifier last year, we then went away to practise and came back now. It’s a long way for us to travel to Addington so we went with the thought that we had a bit of a chance. We were pulled in sixth after the go round and then she went really well for the ride judge and then the conformation judge liked her too so we moved right up! I bought Poppy as a two-year-old with Search for a Star in mind. I’ve done everything with her and she has a brilliant temperament and she enjoys going out on the mountains and forestry and even the beach.”
Lucia competed in Search for a Star the second year it ran, back in the late 1990’s. She said: “That was back when you had to submit a photo of you and the horse for Robert Oliver to look at. I did it with my Small Riding Horse, Dark Revenge. I then had another go maybe twenty years ago with a horse that belonged to David Broome – I know we came fifth in the Riding Horse Hack final but I can’t remember the name of the horse!” Lucia and Poppy have also qualified for the London International Horse Show, TSR and the Nat Champs. Lucia runs a Glamping Pod business at home in the Brecon Beacons.
The Show and Maxi Cob class at Addington went to another competitor that contested SEIB Search for a Star back in the 1990’s, Kay Gillam, this time riding her own handsome cob, Victor 1. A delighted Kay said: “Mutley MG who I did Search for a Star with twenty-six-years ago was a very similar type of cob to Victor. I then went on to compete in the Open HOYS Maxi Cob championship in 2015 with Hortons McLaren and then waited 11 years before having another go at Search for a Star!
“Victor came from Rosemary Connors in Ireland five years ago, he wasn’t for sale initially and then Rosemary decided she might sell him but he was way too expensive! With the help of Val Sheehan we eventually came to an agreement. Victor arrived here that August and then the following May he fractured his neck in a field accident. Victor finds the Summer challenging with the pollen and his sugar levels so HOYS will come at the perfect time of year for him!”
Kay works as a lorry driver and she and Victor hunt with the Narr Valley Bloodhounds. I combine this with carrying out admin for my husband’s business. I also breed and show Giant Schnausers. We have won at Crufts previously and are already qualified for 2027!”
A competitive SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier on the day went to fourteen-year-old Mumford and his owner / rider Collette McGoldrick. Mumford has contested the HOYS SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse championship several times and also qualified for the open HOYS Riding Horse championship in 2023. Collette said: “He was so good on the day at Addington. He’s back to full fitness and raring to go this season after an injury meant he couldn’t go to HOYS last year. Mumford mainly hacks out at home now which he absolutely loves, he knows his job. He’s the only racehorse we have in and it’s been so rewarding training him for a new job, although he still throws the odd curveball!
“Mumford was here with us and then went on to Claire Oliver before Kirsty Manuel-Gray bought him. He came back to me through a complete chance encounter. We went to pick up my lorry from Andrew Davis’ yard and Mumford was on livery there, he whinnied to me and so I spoke to his owners and asked if he could come on loan to us for the season, so he came and then stayed. Kirsty’s circumstances changed so she asked me if I’d keep him. When we first brought Mumford back home his old friend Be Smart and he neighed at each other – they are both spoilt rotten.
In the Traditional Gypsy Cob HOYS Search for a Star qualifier at BSHA the win went to Belle and Freya Jean. Bella as she is known at home is owned by Freya’s mum Amy Payne who said: “Bella went really well on the day at Addington, she always goes better in a nice big ring with a good surface. We just love the taking part and a good placing finishes the show day as a bonus. We still can’t believe we’ve qualified for HOYS, it’s a dream come true for us!”
Amy has owned Bella for 8 years having bought her from friends. She continued: “It was a bit of a crazy decision as Bella was green and my daughter at the time wasn’t quite 5-years-old! Freya and Bella have shown for years from local level at a young age, at the TGCA and in more recent years at the Great Yorkshire Show where they once came 5th. Freya is home schooled, she is only 13 but Bella has taught her more in life and education than I or school ever could. HOYS will be a family affair, Freya, Bella and me as groom. There will be plenty of us coming along to cheer Bella and Freya along on the day!”
SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “The team at the BHSA could not have been more helpful or accommodating for us and our SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse competitors. It was fabulous to have the atmosphere of Addington for the qualifier and we are looking forward to returning to the venue for another SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier at the BHSA Nat Champs in August.”
Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star nearly 30 years ago and the company is renowned for ‘putting something back’ by supporting many equestrian events and activities in addition to Search for a Star.
Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please use links from the SEIB Search for a Star Facebook page. Each qualifying show has a specific Search for a Star Facebook Event set up to include all information for that event.
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.
Results SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse BSHA Spring Show, 3rd May 2026
HOYS Qualifying classes:
Show Hunter – Global Smart Choice owned and ridden by Kate Andrews from Hampshire
Riding Horse Hack – Dowhills Belle Baie owned and ridden by Lucia Thomas from South Wales
Show and Maxi Cob – Victor 1 owned and ridden by Kay Gillam from Norfolk
Racehorse to Riding Horse – Mumford owned and ridden by Collette McGoldrick from Lancashire
Traditional Gypsy Cob all colours – Belle owned by Amy Payne and ridden by Freya Jean from Yorkshire
Further SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers 2026
Rutland Show, Sunday 31st May, Rutland Showground, LE15 7TW. Classes: All HOYS and YHL SFAS and R2R classes.
Royal Three Counties Show, Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June, Three Counties Showground, WR13 6NW. Classes: All HOYS and YHL SFAS and R2R classes. Entries Close 8th May.
North of England Summer Show, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June, Warren Farm EC, L37 0AP. Classes: HOYS – all except Working Horse and Working Pony. YHL – Still a Star, ridden M and M and Lead Rein and First Ridden Only.
Royal Lancashire Show, Friday 3rd July to Sunday 5th July, Salesbury Hall, PR3 3XR. Classes: All HOYS except Working Horse and Working Pony. YHL only Still a Star and Ridden M and M.
TOYS, Thursday 30th July to Sunday 1st August, Onley Grounds EC, CV23 8AJ. Classes: All HOYS except Working Horse and Working Pony. All YHL.
Equifest, Tuesday 4th August to Sunday 9th August, Arena UK, NG32 2EF. Classes: All HOYS except Working Horse and Working Pony. All YHL.
National Hunter Supreme Championship, Tuesday 11th to Wednesday 12th August, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. R2R ONLY.
Pony Club Championships, Sunday 22nd August, Offchurch Bury, CV33 9AW. Classes: Pony Club Members Only.
Greenlands Arena, Sunday 30th August, Carlisle, CA4 0RR. Classes: All HOYS and YHL SFAS and R2R classes.
The Showing Register, Saturday 5th September, NAEC Stoneleigh, CV8 2LA. Classes: All HOYS SFAS and R2R classes only. No YHL classes.
Defender Burghley, Sunday 6th September, Stamford, PE9 3JY. Classes: R2R Only.
BSHA National Championship, Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th September, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. Classes: R2R Only.
LIHS BSHA Rising Stars Show, Sunday 13th September, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. Classes: YHL Still a Star and Ridden M and M Only.
HOYS SEIB Search for a Star Championship, Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th October, Birmingham NEC.
YHL SEIB Search for a Star Championship, Friday 6th to Saturday 7th November, NAEC Stoneleigh.
