The Boss clinches the title in a stellar SEIB Search for a Star season finale at the Horse of the Year Show
The twenty seventh running of the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finals saw a top-class group of horses enter the International HOYS Arena at the Birmingham NEC on Friday 10th October. The Search for a Star Championship has long been the pinnacle of the showing world for amateur enthusiasts and this year the standard was stronger than ever.
Each of the seven horses and riders in the SEIB Search for a Star Championship performed an individual show for judges, Katie Jerram-Hunnable, Chris Hunnable and Hannah Horton to decide the final results from. The overall title went to, Jane Hemmings and her grey Maxi-Cob, The Boss 2 with wild-card qualifier, Julie Flockhart and her Hack mare, Westcountry Lady Guinevere taking the reserve.
Jane’s striking grey Cob The Boss 2 wowed the judges in his individual show to land the title. Jane said: “This is simply a dream come true! I’ve owned The Boss for two years and it’s been a long and patient journey. I did Search for a Star 20 years ago and having qualified the horse went lame before the final. Eighteen months ago The Boss and I had an accident on the road with a cyclist and then I lost my dad days later. All this makes it all the more special to be here today.”
Jane and The Boss qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star finals at Pickering Grange back in the summer at just their second show together. They then won the Search for a Star Cob final at HOYS on Thursday the 9th October before coming forward to take the championship on the Friday of HOYS.
The atmosphere and glamour of HOYS couldn’t be more different to life at home for The Boss, Jane added: “He is a huge character – he lives at home with four goats, three chickens – his favourite one is called Judy – and two kittens!”
Julie Flockhart and her bay mare, Westcountry Lady Guinevere (Savannah) took the reserve SEIB Search for a Star title. This pair had just three weeks to prepare for HOYS following their wild-card qualification announcement. Even with this limited preparation time, Savannah took the electric HOYS atmosphere in her stride.
Julie said: “Sometimes Savannah can be nervous and I just could not be more-proud of her today. I bought Savannah when she was three and a half years old and backed her myself during covid. We managed to get transport so then going to shows became a possibility. I’d always wanted to do Search for a Star so we had to venture further afield to go to the qualifiers, we went to two qualifiers in 2024 and then two more this season, then I got the call saying we’d won a wild card to HOYS!”
Back when Julie first had Savannah she found that there was something not quite right with her. Julie continued: “When I started backing her I felt there was something wrong so called the vet. He found that she had a huge bladder stone and had to have a general anaesthetic to have it removed. Our vet said it was touch and go during the operation and it was a long recovery. I walked Savannah twice every day in hand which I think really helped build our relationship together. People often say if you get a mare on side they will give you their heart; today she definitely did just that.”
Julie and Savannah won the SEIB Search for a Star Hack final on Thursday 9th October at HOYS in order to go forward to Friday’s International Arena Finale.
The first of the SEIB Search for a Star section winners at HOYS this year was Wednesday’s Traditional Gypsy Cob winners; Zoe Clarke riding her mum, Nicola Clarke’s, Marley VI. Zoe said: “I couldn’t have asked more of Marley, he thrived off the magical HOYS atmosphere and I am delighted! My mum, Nicola Clarke bought Marley 12 years ago when he was 6 months old for just £85 at a dispersal sale, in a cattle shed. She wanted him as a happy hacker but has never ridden him herself!”
Zoe and Marley live in Inverness, she continued: “It’s taken us a two-day journey to get down to Birmingham, we stopped overnight in Carlisle, Marley just takes is all in his stride. We’ve enjoyed the build up to HOYS and I would love one day to come back in the Open classes. I work as a veterinary physio and am very lucky to be self-employed and control my diary so we can come to these shows.”
Also enjoying a win in the TopSpec Arena on Wednesday 8th October was the top placed SEIB Search for a Star Show Hunter, Whistle. This stunning bay mare is owned by Jo Richardson and ridden by Alice Kent from Midhurst. It was a huge double celebration on the day as it was also Jo’s birthday! Jo said: “I didn’t think these things happened to people like us! And on my Birthday, what a present! Not in a million years did I think Alice and Whistle would win today we were hoping to be placed, and with Whistle being bred and broken in by ourselves, this is beyond amazing. Whistle is by a thoroughbred stallion, Aveia owned by Anne Bassett – several of her half siblings have done well in showing too.”
The first of Thursday’s Search for a Star Finals was the Riding Horse and Hack final. The Hack winners, Julie Flockhart and Westcountry Lady Guinevere went on to take the overall reserve champion title. The Riding Horse final went to Kai Wood riding his mother’s bay gelding, Fridebi Timberland (Tim).
Kai from Wolviston, Co Durham said: “I was nervous before the class today; we’ve put in so much work to get here. The feeling to get in the ring was just incredible. The horses are my absolute love and I’ve grown up around them. Tim, has been with us since he was two and I’ve broken him in and done everything with him. I’ve got aspirations to be a jockey and work full-time as a work rider for trainer Rebecca Menzies; I’ve got my first point-to-point season coming up and my first race in December.”
The Working Horse and Working Pony SEIB Search for a Star HOYS finals ran on the Friday lunchtime of HOYS. The Working Pony final went to fifteen-year-old Charlotte Ramage riding her mum, Jo Ramage’s chestnut pony, Jack in the Box II. Charlotte and eighteen-year-old Jack took the HOYS atmosphere in their stride having qualified for the HOYS championship at their first ever show together back in the spring. Charlotte said: “This is a dream come true! It’s amazing, we have done lots of practising and lessons all summer to get here. Normally we compete in eventing but Jack is enthusiastic about the show ring – he loves showing off!” Charlotte and Jack are members of the VWH Pony Club.
The Search for a Star Working Horse title went to Caroline Champion riding Susan Fletcher’s grey cob Heartthrob. Caroline said: “Heartthrob had so much fun in the ring – he even squealed in there! He’s not bothered by the crowd – he thrives off it. He’s a true showman and loves his time in the spotlight!” Susan bought Heartthrob unbroken as a three-year-old and Caroline has had him on loan from Susan for the last six years. Caroline added: “Heartthrob was bought to be a flat show cob but loves his jumping so we have also done plenty of Working Show Horse classes including winning at the BSHA Show Horse Championship and we also won the Working Show Horse championship at the London Horse Show in 2022.” Caroline works as a Dental Implant Nurse at Space Dental in Huddersfield.
The SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Championships at Horse of the Year Show offer the chance for amateur riders to compete at this major championship show. The Search for a Star championships first took place at Horse of the Year Show in 1998 and have run ever since. Over the years Search for a Star has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at HOYS with many going on to compete with success in open classes.
Series organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “We have had one of the best seasons of Search for a Star I can remember. Any one of the horses and ponies forward for the championship could have won it. The amount of work the amateur riders put in to achieving performances, and turnout, of this standard is quite remarkable considering they are fitting it in around their day job and/or studying. Our thanks as ever go to our fabulous Search for a Star team of judges and stewards who are so committed to giving their time to give-back to showing. Several competitors were very quick to send on much appreciated thanks to Jordan Cook, Nicola Taylor and Emma Rodman for being on hand in the collecting ring on Thursday and Friday to offer last minute support. We are very grateful to the team at Grandstand Media who host this Championship at Horse of the Year Show we couldn’t do any of it if they were not on our side and enormously helpful during the season.”
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Results, SEIB Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show Championship 2025
Champion – (Cob) The Boss 2 owned and ridden by Jane Hemmings from Derbyshire
Reserve Champion – (Hack) Westcountry Lady Guinevere owned and ridden by Julie Flockheart from Falkirk
Traditional Cob 1st – Marley VI owned by Nicola Clarke and ridden by Zoe Clarke from Perthshire
Riding Horse 1st – Fridebi Timberland owned by Tammy Britton and ridden by Kai Wood from Co Durham
Show Hunter 1st – Whistle owned by Jo Richardson and ridden by Alice Kent from West Sussex
Working Horse 1st – Heartthrob owned by Susan Fletcher and ridden by Caroline Champion from West Yorkshire
Working Pony 1st – Jack in the Box II owned by Jo Ramage and ridden by Charlotte Ramage from Wiltshire
