Competition looks for our rising stars (From Worcester News)

Competition looks for our rising stars

10:00am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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AMATEUR horse riders from Worcestershire have the opportunity to compete at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

For the 12th year running, another series of the popular competition Search For A Star has been launched to encourage amateur riders to produce their horses to a high standard in the show ring and qualify for one of the top horse shows in the world.

Search For A Star has helped many horses to go on to a very successful show ring career, with some competitors going on to win open classes at HOYS.

Each qualifying competition follows the same format with classes for working hunters, riding club show horses, show hunters, show ponies and show hunter ponies, riding horse/hacks and cobs.

Search for a Star judge Richard Ramsay, together with his cojudges at each venue, have many years of experience in the show ring and are very helpful. There is always an opportunity after each class to speak with the judges who will offer advice on how to improve your horse for the show ring. The riders selected for HOYS will be invited to participate in a training day before they make their debut appearance at the event.

Nicolina MacKenzie, marketing manager for organisers South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB), said: “The Search For A Star championship series is a way to give amateur riders the chance to achieve their dream of riding at the Horse of the Year Show.

“This is why the series – launched by us 12 years ago – has become so popular and is now well-established. It is lovely to see the reaction of both rider and owner when they realise that they have made it and will be attending HOYS”.

The Search For A Star competition rules, comprehensive information, a downloadable schedule and entry form are available from search4astar.org.uk, as well as the latest news, details of previous winners, what to wear and a great forum for riders to share their views.

Held in conjunction with the Search For A Star classes, the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse show championship was created to support and encourage the reeducation of thoroughbreds taken out of racing, re-schooling them and preparing them for a new career in the show ring.

The series is supported by the charity Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) and this year the winner will also collect the valuable ROR/SEIB Elite Performance Award and a prize of £2,500. To be eligible for this class, the exracehorse horse must have been in training with a recognised trainer, must have raced in the UK either in point to point, national hunt or on the flat, and be registered with ROR.

The Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship series helps to recognise the abilities of the many horses that come out of racing each year, providing them with a worthwhile competition opportunity. The classes are judged as for riding horses but the best of type, whether hack, riding horse or hunter, is deemed the winner.

Ms MacKenzie said: “It is great to see the huge support of riders with ex-racehorses competing in the Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship.The series of competitions give ex-racehorses the chance to embark on a new career. As many riders know, taking on an ex-racehorse can be a challenge but is both worthwhile and rewarding and I hope that this encourages more people to have a go and take part”.

This year, qualifiers for both championships will take place at Osbaldeston, Lancashire (May 23); June 13h at Vale View, Leicestershire (June 13); July 4 at Badgworth, Somerset (July 4); Wellington, Hampshire (July 11) andagain at Vale View on July 18.

A further Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier will be held at Burghley Horse Trials on September 5 More information about the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship is available at racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk from where a schedule and entry form can be downloaded, together with the latest news about the event and details of previous winners and there is also an opportunity to share views in an online forum.

The website, also has details of the new ROR/SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Elite Performance Awards – a points scheme open to all ex-racehorses competing in affiliated dressage, show jumping, eventing or endurance.

This year also sees the introduction of a new competition for the SEIB Search For A Star Stewards competition, offering the winner the chance to work alongside the distinguished stewarding team at the Horse of the Year Show with all expenses paid and six tickets for the Wednesday performance.

The competition is designed to encourage up-and-coming stewards who want to progress and become involved in the big events. Potential entrants can download an application form and rules from the Search4astar.org.uk website.