It’s a One, Two for Rare British Breeds in the 2023 SEIB Search for a Star Championships at Your Horse Live

British rare breeds dominated in the Supreme SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Your Horse Live Championship on the 11th November in the main SEIB Arena at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. A Suffolk Punch mare took the Supreme title and a Dales the reserve. Champions of all shapes and sizes were crowned in the Search for a Star finals the previous day in the SEIB Arena at Your Horse Live before the 10 section winners came forward for the Saturday lunchtime Supreme Championship.

Suffolk Punch mare, four-year-old, Holbeache Scarlet won the first ever in-hand Search for a Star Heavy Horse final on the Friday and then took the in-hand and then went overall Supreme Champion on the Saturday. Holbeache Scarlet is owned by Andrea Hoskins and was handled by Stud Manager, Brak Auker. This is the first year the in-hand heavy horse Search for a Star championship has run. The Supreme championship was judged by Katie Jerram-Hunnable, Chris Hunnable, Matthew Lawrence and Beth Simons. The Suffolk Punch breed is registered on the Priority list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, making them critically endangered. There are only 80 Suffolk Punch breeding mares in the UK and there were just 23 foals on the ground in 2023.

In reserve position was Dales gelding Nipna Outrageous and his owner and rider, Nicola Clarey. This pair won the Search for a Star ridden mountain and moorland championship on the Friday before coming forward for the supreme on Saturday.

Longstanding Search for a Star judges Katie Jerram Hunnable and Chris Hunnable said: “Both the rare breed champion and reserve stood out today. The Suffolk Punch was lovely and so well behaved. She is in foal – due at the end of May which will be a fantastic addition to the collection of these rare breeds. I really liked her foreleg with her short pastern and cannon bone. It was a lovely win. The Dales was true to type and we really liked him. We love supporting Search for a Star, Nicolina and her team work so hard and its great to see the series getting bigger and better each year.”

Brad Auker said: “It means an awful lot to me to win here today. It’s the first job I’ve had where I’m completely in charge and I am delighted we have managed to do this for Andrea. This is all new to me, I’ve been working as stud manager for Andrea for a year now. The Search for a Star workshop in September was great and taught me how to plait which has been great for today.”

Competitors through to the Search for a Star Your Horse Live finals on the Friday were lucky enough to go before judges, top show producers and Search for a Star stalwarts, Katie Jerram-Hunnable and Chris Hunnable and Matthew Lawrence. The new In-Hand Heavy Horse Championship was judged by Steve Ledsham and included a shoeing competition judged by Farriers Registration Council member, Robin May.

The first championship final of the Friday encompassed three of the six classes that make up the SEIB Search for a Star in-hand championships. Twelve horses and ponies came forward in total. Each finalist completed a go-round in walk before lining up and coming out for individual conformation assessment followed by trotting-up for the judges. Detailed commentary was provided by judges, Matthew Lawrence, Chris Hunnable and Katie Jerram-Hunnable.

The first winner to be announced was the in-hand plaited pony final which went to a delighted Phoebe Crutchlow and her mother’s riding pony, Rhos Elodie. Atherston Branch of the Pony Club member, Phoebe said: “My mum came third with Elodie in this final last year, our aim was to do better! And we did! The best part of the class was our individual show, I really enjoyed it.” Phoebe followed up her in-hand win with a second place in the Pony Club Search for a Star First Ridden championship later in the morning. Phoebe’s mum, Sam Crutchlow said: “They’ve done so well, Phoebe has been practising hard and now Elodie will have a holiday. They’ve also won the Pony Club regional dressage championships and several young handler classes this season.”

Next up was the Search for a Star in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob presentation. The win went to ex-racehorse, Betheholyman and his owner and handler, Mali Jones from Swansea. Mali said: “Today has been the best experience for us. Before Search for a Star we’d never done in-hand showing and its amazing to have the championship experience. It was all so well organised today which was great as I was very nervous.” Mali and Betheholyman have also competed in several SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers over the last few years. Mali added: “Betheholyman has the best manners, I wasn’t looking for an ex-racehorse when we got him. It has taken us five or six years to get to this point and we’ve also competed in elementary dressage and we plan to do some showjumping.”

A hotly contested in-hand Search for a Star veteran championship went to Heidi Bull and her eighteen-year-old homebred mare, Romany (Play Time). After breeding this dark bay mare, Heidi showed her successfully as a foal and then competed up to elementary level in dressage. Heidi said: “She is looking really well and was so settled today, we just started showing last year. I’ve got 6 plates and screws in my pelvis so I’m suited to in-hand classes! Romany is out of an Irish Sports Horse mare who did everything, she bred two lovely foals, and sadly her other foal died which makes Romany really special.”

The in-hand mountain and moorland winner at Your Horse Live, Highland pony, Kirtonian Loch Birnie and his owner and rider, Liz Twite also took third place in the ridden mountain and moorland championship. Liz said: “Kirtonian Loch Birnie has really made my dreams come true. We qualified for this just a few days after my mother died back in the spring. He is a nine-year-old and we also jump, compete side-saddle and have plenty of fun. I bought him as a foal, a good friend bred him and I’d never sell him. He’s been shown in-hand since a yearling and has been champion Highland at the Royal Cornwall Show five times! He loves showing himself off.” Liz is also a former Search for a Star Steward of the Year winner.

A silver dapple traditional cob won the Search for a Star in-hand Your Horse Live championship. Foxwell Butterscotch and his handler David Pepperdine were delighted! Foxwell Butterscotch is known as Dewey at home and he is owned by David’s wife, Louise. The Pepperdines bought Dewey from an allotment on a Welsh Mountain, as a foal, during lockdown. He is now four-years-old. Louise said: “We are thrilled with this, it is his first stay away show and we are really looking forward to doing more under saddle in the future. Dewi was broken in a year ago and does everything. We are so lucky to have him.”

Heavy horse finals judge on the Friday, Steve Ledsham said: “They were all winners on the day in this final as they have all qualified at the different shows. It is the breed standard that we are looking to find in a mixed class. The Suffolk Punch, Holbeache Scarlet met the breed standard to perfection.” The Search for a Star In-Hand heavy horse championship class also featured the best shod competition, and a prize awarded to the highest placed horse owned and exhibited by a British Horse Society member. Holbeache Scarlet won both of these prizes as well and was presented with her prizes on the Friday by British Horse Society Chief Executive Officer, James Hick.

Holbeache Scarlet is one of a band of broodmares owned by Andrea Hoskins, Brad continued: “We are aiming to preserve the breed, Scarlet is in foal, she is well put together and has also won best shod prizes several times. Showing is definitely her thing! I was always interested in heavy and working horses but then was sidetracked into thoroughbreds for several years before now working as the stud manager for Andrea. Holbeache Scarlet has also won at the Royal Norfolk show and was supreme champion at Suffolk.”

Next in the arena were the Pony Club Search for a Star classes. These classes are in their second year and a total of sixteen ponies qualified for the championship.

Ross-Shire Pony Club member Ianna Grant won the Search for a Star Lead-Rein Pony Club Championship with her mother Mary-Jo Grant’s Welsh Section A pony, Thistledown Edison. It was a tough journey down to Stoneleigh from north of Inverness for the Grant family, including a breakdown on the way. Mary-Jo said: “It took us 14 hours and was 480 miles down! It was definitely worth it though! Edison does everything, side-saddle, Pony Club, camp and shows. He was Supreme of Show at our Ross-shire Pony Club show.” Ianna is a pupil at Avoch Primary School near Inverness.

The first ridden Search for a Star Pony Club championship went to Rufford Pony Club member, Millie Croft with 13-year-old, Welsh Section B, Desarbre Sparrow Hawk owned by Lisa Croft. Desarbre Sparrow Hawk is known at home as Romeo. Lisa said: “They do their best and have been practising hard! We’ve owned Romeo since February this year and he and Millie are having a go at everything together, they’ve been showing and won the Pony Club regional dressage championships. They are in the Rufford Pony Club and Millie goes to Ranby House School in Retford. We did Search for a Star on the lead rein last year and are delighted to be back and to have done so well in the first ridden class this year.”

In the open Pony Club Search for a Star championship, Cotswold Vale member, Rose Chugg-Martin and Tregaire Tiger Lily took top spot. Rose said: “She was so well behaved today and is simply a legend! I was pleased with how our show went, we have been doing lots of dressage which has definitely helped! Rose’s mum, Eloise Chugg-Martin said: “Lily is just brilliant, we bought her three-years-ago. She came from St Just in Roseland in Cornwall, when we went to try her, it was the windiest day and Rose took her straight out on the beach and she was foot-perfect.”

The first Your Horse Live Search for a Star championship took place in 2018 for Mountain and Moorlands, and now, five years on, the championship has become a true amateur mountain and moorland goal. The winner of the Search for a Star finals on the Friday, Nipna Outrageous, owned and ridden by Nicola Clarey from Lincolnshire went on to take the Reserve Search for a Star Champion title on the Saturday in the Supreme. Ray, as this rare breed six-year-old, Dales pony is known at home, is in just his first year showing. Nicola said: “He just felt amazing in the Supreme Championship today. He loves the atmosphere and will now have a rest until the new year. He has had a busy time in his first season showing and took 3rd at his first Search for a Star qualifier back in April before qualifying at Stoneleigh Park in the summer. He’s improving all the time and we will go for HOYS and Royal International qualifiers next year.” Nicola was lucky to be at Your Horse Live after slipping over earlier in the week which resulted in a trip to A and E.

Nine top horses and ponies came forward to contest the Search for a Star Open Veteran final at Your Horse Live. This finale has a valuable £500 first prize to the winner this year. Each finalist gave a unique individual show with plenty of flamboyance and the four judges held up score cards – similar to Strictly – and gave a mark out of 10 for the shows before the winners were announced.

The title of Open Search for a Star Veteran championship went to Saffron XII owned and ridden by Sarah Grindle from Gloucestershire. This pair compete at advanced-medium level dressage and are in their first year showing. Sarah said: “She is 20 now and has had the same home since she was a yearling. In addition to her dressage she’s also competed at pre-novice level eventing. We’ve been everywhere this season, including Royal Winsdor and, the Veteran Horse Society Championships. It’s a brilliant end to the season! Saffron is on loan from a friend, we both had children at the same time and so decided to share her. Its worked out really well and has been the arrangement for the last nine years.”

Founder of Search for a Star, SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “You simply couldn’t beat the atmosphere at the Search for a Star Your Horse Live championship this year. We are thrilled with how the new Search for a Star in-hand heavy horse championship has gone and delighted that we had two British native rare-breeds taking the supreme and reserve titles.”

Competitors at the Search for a Star Your Horse Live championships are lucky to go under top producers, Katie Jerram-Hunnable and Chris Hunnable and Matthew Lawrence for their final. As each class is underway, the judges voice their thoughts over a microphone. This has proved very popular with the audience.

Your Horse Live Event Director, Emma Bedford said: “We were thrilled to welcome the Search for a Star in-hand heavy horses to Your Horse Live this year. The standard of horses and ponies was so high and its always a pleasure to have the championships here.”

Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star nearly 30 years ago so they could offer a unique competition opportunity to many of their amateur rider customers. SEIB has a long association with the showing world and is renowned for ‘putting something back’ by supporting many equestrian events and activities in addition to Search for a Star.

Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers provide cover for horses, horse boxes, yards and much more.   The company has a long association with the showing world and is renowned for ‘putting something back’ by supporting equestrian events and activities.

Results SEIB Search for a Star Championships at Your Horse Live 2023.

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Champion 2022
Holbeache Scarlett owned by Andrea Hoskins and handles by Brad Auker from Lincolnshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Reserve Champion 2022
Nipna Outrageous owned and ridden by Nicola Clarey from Lincolnshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live In-Hand Plaited Horse
Betheholyman / owned and handled by Mali Jones from Swansea

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live In-Hand Plaited Pony
Rhos Elodie / owned by Sam Crutchlow and handled by Phoebe Crutchlow from Warwickshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live In-Hand Veteran
Romany (Play The) / owned and handled by Heidi Bull from Shropshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live In-Hand M and M
Kirtonian Loch Birnie / owned and ridden by Liz Twite from Devon

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live IN-Hand Native and Traditional
Foxwell Butterscotch / owned by Louise Pepperdine and handled by David Pepperdine from Lincolnshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live In-Hand Heavy Horse
Holbeache Scarlet / owned by Andrea Hoskins and handled by Brad Auker from Lincolnshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Pony Club First Ridden
Desarbre Sparrow Hawk / owned by Lisa Croft and ridden by Millie Croft from Nottinghamshire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Pony Club Lead Rein
Thistledown Edison / owned by Mary-Jo Grant and ridden by Ianna Grant from Ross-Shire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Pony Club Open
Tregaire Tiger Lily / owned by Eloise Chugg-Martin and ridden by Rose Chugg-Martin from Gloucestershire

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Mountain and Moorland Ridden
1st Nipna Outrageous / owned and ridden by Nicola Clarey from Lincolnshire
2nd Saulire Thunder Struck / owned and ridden by Caroline Edgson from Warwickshire
3rd Kirtonian Loch Birnie / owned and ridden by Liz Twite from Devon

SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Open Veteran Ridden
1st Saffron XII / owned and ridden by Sarah Grindle from Gloucestershire
2nd Gallifrey / owned by Carole West and ridden by Lynn Russell from Surrey
3rd Elmhurst Bizzie B / owned by Jackie Banks and ridden by Xanthe Banks from Worcestershire