Traditional Gypsy Cobs are to have their moment to shine at Horse of the Year Show
Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 by Sasha Melia
It is with great excitement that Horse of the Year Show are introducing a brand-new class for HOYS 2019! In support of the SEIB Search for a Star series, which has proved a popular addition to the timetable since it was introduced in 1998, HOYS will this year welcome purebred traditional cobs to compete in the SEIB Traditional Horse/Pony class. At each of the five SEIB qualifiers, one solid and one coloured horse will go through to HOYS, so a total of ten traditional cobs will have their time to shine at the UK’s most prestigious horse show.
Event Director for Horse of the Year Show, Emma Williams, commented: “We are delighted to be opening up the opportunity for more horses and more riders to be eligible to compete at Horse of the Year Show, which is so widely recognised as the pinnacle of the showing year. Up until now we have not had a class available for solid coloured traditional cobs so this will provide them with the opportunity to compete amongst the highest calibre of competitors, along with their coloured counterparts. The successfulness of the new addition will determine its longevity at Horse of the Year Show, therefore we would like to encourage as many amateur riders as possible who enjoy competing their traditional cob, to make the most of their opportunity to compete under the spotlight at HOYS.”
SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “This brand new competition will support the SEIB Search for a Star ethos of providing opportunities for grass root riders with their beloved horses and ponies. We would like to say a big thank you to Horse of the Year Show for their continued support of the series and for giving true amateur riders a shot at the big time. Nearly 20 years ago HOYS allowed SEIB to take ex-racehorses there for the first time and look what a success that class has become! We hope and believe that traditional cobs will prove to be as popular.”
Long-standing SEIB Search for a Star judge Richard Ramsay said: “This is a really interesting addition to Search for a Star. The traditional gypsy cob qualifiers deserve plenty of support and I am very much looking forward to judging the classes.”
The Traditional Gypsy Cob Association (TGCA) is wholeheartedly supporting the new SEIB Search for a Star competition. Founding TGCA Director, Andrea Betteridge said: “I am thrilled that the Traditional Gypsy Cob Breed will be showcased within the exceptional SEIB Search for a Star series with its finals at the most prestigious show of the year.”
This new SEIB Search for a Star competition for traditional cobs offers an incredible opportunity for the breed, whatever colour they happen to be they will have a chance to compete at Horse of the Year Show. Nicolina continued: “Traditional cobs come in such a glorious range of colours and to date the coloureds are the only sector that has been represented. This new series will give the whole breed including the solid coloured horses a pathway to display their beauty and talent.”
The new SEIB Search for a Star competition for traditional cobs is open to pure-bred registered cobs only. Horses and ponies will have to have a Traditional Gypsy Cob Association (TGCA) passport or have theirs over stamped by the organisation, to prove that they meet the breed standard and are not part-breds. However, as always with SEIB Search for a Star, no competitor has to be a member of any organisation.
This new competition will follow the standard rules for SEIB Search for a Star, which are strictly enforced. The first qualifier of the season takes place at Osbaldeston Riding Centre on the 14th April. Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star over 20 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.
Horse of the Year Show takes place this year from 2nd – 6th October 2019 at the Resorts World Arena, the NEC Birmingham for another year of breath-taking displays and unbeatable competition. Tickets and a full timetable of events will be released in February. To stay up to date with the latest HOYS news and to be the first to know what’s happening, sign up to our newsletter here: https://hoys.co.uk/newsletter-sign-up/
British Horse Feeds Welcomes New Rider to Ambassador Team
Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 by Sasha Melia
Yorkshire based event and dressage rider Harriet Falshaw (22) has joined the team of British Horse Feeds ambassadors.
Harriet has been riding from a young age and always knew she had a passion for eventing which she combines alongside her job as a surveyor for Carter Jones.
At home Harriet has two horses, Boolagh Fergus, a cheeky 10-year-old Connemara X TB and a talented Irish Sports Horse called Shannondale Sharona, also known as Lexi.
Fergus has been with Harriet for just over four years and they have competed successfully together at BE100 level before recognising he is extremely talented in dressage and focussed on that discipline. The pair quickly progressed to Advanced Medium level at several regional championships, and next will be the winter regionals where Fergus has qualified for Medium Silver.
Lexi had a great 2018 season, claiming two BE Novice wins and are now working hard to move up to Intermediate level.
2019 will be the partnerships third season and Lexi will be coming out at Intermediate level. After an early CCI-L2* she will then be aimed at CCI-S3*, as she is on the watch list for the 3* Europeans. Hopefully after this they will finish the season with a CCI-L3*. A dream for Harriet would be to compete at the U25s at Bramham in 2020.
Harriet commented: “I am so pleased that British Horse Feeds has welcomed me to their team of ambassadors, their support will be a great asset to help me with my goals.
“We have fed our horses Fibre-Beet for over a decade as we believe it is a great way to keep horses such as Lexi hydrated when in hard work and satisfies fussy eaters like Fergus who flat out refuses to eat dry feed.”
Hatti I’Anson of British Horse Feeds said: “We are delighted to welcome Harriet to the team and cannot wait to see what 2019 brings for this talented rider.
“Supporting riders like Harriet is something that British Horse Feeds is passionate about and we now have a brilliant team that we enjoy working alongside.”
For more information on Speedi-Beet or Fibre-Beet please contact British Horse Feeds on 01765 680300 or visit www.britishhorsefeeds.com.
