SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse 2026 at the Wiltshire Horse Show
The 2026 running of the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers got off to a flying start at the Wiltshire Horse Show at West Wilts Equestrian Centre, Melksham on Friday 27th March. For the first time this season all qualifying SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse classes are being run in conjunction with another show.
The qualifier at the Wiltshire Show ran the full 18 SEIB Search for a Star classes and the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class, offering qualification opportunities for both Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live. In another new move for this year, just one combination in each class qualifies for the chance to compete in either the HOYS or Your Horse Live (YHL) Search for a Star championships meaning that Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse now offer more qualifying shows across a wider selection of venues. The Search for a Star HOYS and YHL championships will remain the same as in previous years.
Vincent Seddon, Wiltshire Show Organiser said: “I was absolutely delighted to host the SEIB SFAS and YHL classes at the Wiltshire Spring Show for the very first time this year. 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, we look forward to building on this success in future years.”
HOYS Qualifying Classes
The Wiltshire Show qualifier got underway with a win in the HOYS qualifying Show Hunter class for Katie Radcliffe and her own striking 7-year-old gelding, Kinsales Irish Emerald. Katie and Kinsales Irish Emerald came to the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier following wins at the London International Horse Show in the Show Hunters and Working Hunter finals. Katie said: “He went well today and I couldn’t have asked for more. He’s just a gorgeous horse. He came from Ireland as an unbacked three-year-old after I’d had a 20-year break from riding. We do a bit of everything and he’s great for leading the kids ponies out too! I went to HOYS 24-years-ago on a 15hh Working Hunter Pony and can’t believe I’ve got the chance to go back!”
In the Riding Horse Hack class the win went to former SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live finalists, Rosa Cartwright and her lovely chestnut gelding, Greenvale Don Legend. Donny, as he is known at home, and Rosa suffered from nerves when they made their appearance at Your Horse Live back in 2024. Rosa said: “We had big ambitions for this year and qualifying for HOYS was top of the list, and we’ve done it! I’m very proud of Donny. We were new to showing when we went to Your Horse Live and we’ve worked hard to get our nerves under control. Our support team has been fantastic and we’ve been to lots of lessons and clinics and been outside our comfort zone but now we’ve got control of the nerves!” Donny and Rosa won the Riding Horse final at the London Horse Show in December 2025. They rounded off a fabulous day at the Wiltshire Show with a win later in the day in the Riding Club Show Horse or Pony Your Horse Live qualifying class as well.
The Show and Maxi Cob class at Wiltshire was won by Siobhan Dalloway and her coloured cob, Dream on Harry. Siobhan said: “I’m over the moon we’ve qualified! We’ve been trying for the last three or four years! Harry originally came from Ireland and was very nervous. He is the most genuine horse and you just can’t rush him or he panics. He definitely takes his confidence from his rider and my friend Vicky who helps me is still the only one that can load him for travelling. Harry is definitely my horse of a lifetime!”
A competitive SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier on the day went to Marina Greenaway riding Donna Bamonte’s bay mare, Hagar. Donna lost her husband, Perry Bamonte on Christmas Eve 2025. Donna said: “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. 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 to practice in indoor schools. I told myself I can’t stay at home and I’ve got to get out. Hazel is still only seven now and 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.”
In the Traditional Gypsy Cob HOYS Search for a Star qualifier at Wiltshire, Sherlock’s Razzling Royal and Catherine Tristram took top spot. Harry as this 8-year-old traditional cob is called at home was bought by Catherine’s mum two-years-ago as her 70th Birthday present for hacking and to be a family pony. Catherine said: “He’s safer and more trustworthy than a Welsh Section A! We also compete in dressage and have qualified for the British Dressage National Festival at prelim level in just a few outings. We came 6th in Search for a Star last season too and the dressage has improved his way of going. HOYS and TOYS are on my bucket list – as a child I spent years trying to qualify for HOYS in working hunter ponies and mountain and moorlands!” This pair will do some eventing and showjumping and have some fun over the summer.
The popular Working Horse and Working Pony Search for a Star classes ran at the end of the day at Wiltshire. A huge Working Pony class went to Pitch Supreme (Gigi) and Evelyn Tuck who had travelled four hours on the day from Derbyshire to Wiltshire for the qualifier. Evelyn said: “I was so nervous before the class – its also my Birthday today! We’ve owned Gigi for two-and-a-half-years she was the first pony we looked at and everything about her was amazing. We’ve mainly competed in 14hh Working Hunter Pony classes and have been placed a few times at county level”. 15-year-old Evelyn is home-educated and hopes to train to be an equine physiotherapist.
Helen Forster and her own chestnut mare, HS Queen Bea won the Working Horse class. Helen said: “I bought her from her breeder when she was just six-months-old and we’ve done a bit of everything together. I qualified for Search for a Star in the Riding Horse class three-years-ago with my horse Greannanstown Jackpot who so sadly had a field accident and died before the finals. I’m so lucky to have Bea and to have now qualified again. We went to the London Horse Show in 2024 and 2025 when we came 2nd and took the Reserve Champion Working Show Horse. We also do some showjumping together and have qualified for the Blue Chip Showjumping Championships.”
Your Horse Live qualifying classes
Shetland pony, Geronimo of Catchpool and his handler Heidi Walgate won the Your Horse Live qualifying In-Hand Mountain and Moorland pony qualifier at the Wiltshire Show. Heidi said: “Gerry is one of the family! He loves hunting and jumping too, he’s shared by my four children and now me! 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.”
The ridden Mountain and Moorland class went to Fell pony, Murthwaite Lucky Lad II and Lauren Allsopp. Sooty as this pony is known as at home is like a pair of ‘faithful slippers’ according to Lauren! She added: “We bought Sooty from his breeders at the Murthwaite Stud when he was a two-year-old, we stumbled across him really. He was originally my mum’s pony and we broke him to drive before later swapping into showing and eventing, he’s 14 now. 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!” Lauren works for the Local Authority with homeless people.
Ex-racehorse, Chronos and his handler Amanda Jones won the In-Hand Plaited Horse and Hogged Show Cob class at the Wiltshire Show. Amanda said: “this is his first show as an ex-racehorse. He’s a great mover and has been off the track for eighteen months or so. He ran over hurdles – very badly twelve times. We will eventually aim to compete in ridden showing classes with him in time.” Amanda has had success in Search for a Star In-Hand classes previously, in 2023 she won this class with her other horse, Be The Holy Man.
The Plaited Pony In-Hand Search for a Star Your Horse Live qualifying class and the Lead Rein Pony Class went to Delilah Coombs and Gabriella Jordan Ford’s Welsh Section A pony, Llanai Curtsey.
Nicola Weynburg and her 28-year-old Connemara pony, Mickey won the In-Hand Veteran Horse or Pony class. Both Nicola and Mickey share a Birthday – and remarkably their joint birthday fell on the day of the Wiltshire Show! Nicola said: “Its our 20th year together – all those years ago Mickey was a surprise Christmas present from my mum – he was hidden in a stable! We’ve done plenty of showjumping and eventing – he used to be a great puissance pony and jumped 4 feet 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.” Nicola works in Airbus Defence.
The new SEIB Search for a Star In-Hand Part and Pure-Bred Traditional class sees two combinations go forward to the Your Horse Live finals – one Part-Bred Traditional cob and one Pure-bred Traditional Cob. The Part-Bred Traditional section went to Rochelle Green with her sister, Allana Green’s Kincullia Major. Rochelle said: “We weren’t expecting to win! This is my first time showing him and we were winging it! Allana has owned him for the last five years – this is a great start to our weekend as we are on a girls weekend away! He came from Ireland originally and was totally unhandled, he did a whole year of ground work before anything else.” Kincullia Major has done mainly showing with Allana including taking 2nd place in the Search for a Star HOYS cob finals and competing at the London International Horse Show.
The Pure-Bred section of the class was won by Paige Macauley and Prince JR. Paige said: “We’ve never done showing before, he looked after me in there. I’m speechless! 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! We both have the same amount of bubbly energy! I have the most amazing job, its our family business and we work a lot with the Princes Trust and Sophie’s Legacy Charity.”
The one SEIB Search for a Star class open to all riders and not restricted to amateurs, the Open Ridden Veteran, Still a Star class went to 19-year-old On A High Touch owned and ridden by Daniella Girvan. Known as Piglet this stunning grey loves showing according to Daniella as she is the centre of attention in the ring! Daniella said: “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! We’ve owned Piglet for seven-years – as well as loving showing and jumping she’s also keen on food and rolling in mud!” Daniella works in healthcare administration.
The SEIB Search for a Star First Ridden class was won by Isabella Dobson and her Welsh Section A pony, Tryfel Royal Princess. The Dobson family have owned Tryfel Royal Princess for a year and a half and eight-year-old Izzy has had her patience rewarded with this win. She said: “At our first show together last year she injured herself so this is our first proper season together.” This pair will also compete in some Working Hunter Pony classes and London Horse Show qualifiers. They are members of the South Trent Pony Club.
18-year-old Moelgarnedd Arthur and his rider, Georgia Reynolds won the Open Pony Club Type Pony qualifier. This pair qualified for Your Horse Live in the Still a Star Open Veteran class in 2025 but owing to an injury couldn’t come forward for the finals. Georgia said: “I thought we had no chance today! Artur 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.” This pair are members of the Monmouthshire Pony Club.
SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “Our thanks goes to Vincent and his organising team at the Wiltshire Show for the smooth running of the first full SEIB Search for a Star qualifier of the season. The new format of running Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers in conjunction with other shows is an exciting one and we’re looking forward to a great season ahead.”
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 www.seib.co.uk.
