Market Rasen horse and rider qualify for Horse of the Year Show

Carol booked her place after riding her own Zorravarte in the Working Hunter class at the SEIB Insurance Broker’s Search For A Star qualifier at Houghton Hall, in Cambridgeshire.

She faced stiff competition, but her 12-year-old gelding proved unbeatable.

Carol has owned Zorravarte since he was five and has evented the talented bay to intermediate level. More recently, she has focussed on dressage, and the pair came fifth in the Elementary Freestyle class at the National Dressage Championships.

“I have never done any showing, but a friend suggested that I should show him,” Carol said.

“We did a couple of local shows where he won so we decided to try SEIB Search for a Star. It is completely new to me and I am over the moon!”

Carol intends to keep the gelding at elementary level dressage for the time being and will aim him at county level working hunter classes.

“I am ecstatic; going to the Horse of the Year Show will be amazing!”

The SEIB Search for a Star series was created by SEIB to encourage amateur riders to produce their horses to a high standard in the show ring and give them the opportunity to compete at the prestigious finals at HOYS.

The pair will compete at the Championship finals at HOYS which takes place from October 5 to 9 at the Birmingham NEC.

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.

Nicolina MacKenzie, marketing manager at South Essex Insurance Brokers, 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. The standard increases every year and we are delighted to give so many riders this opportunity.”