Entries are now open for qualifying competitions for the 2025 season for SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse. With exciting championship finals at Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live, SEIB Search for a Star goes from strength to strength. New for Search for a Star 2025 is an In-Hand class for Traditional, Native and large Rare Breeds and Search for a Star are working with Rescue Equine Showing Society (RESS) to offer an In-Hand class for Rescue Horses and Ponies.
SEIB Search for a Star organiser Nicolina MacKenzie said: “We are delighted to be increasing our In-Hand Search for a Star classes this year. Rare breeds are so important and we are excited to be working with RESS and helping showcase the transformative work done by those adopting or fostering horses or ponies under charity guardianship schemes or those that have been individually rescued. We have also updated the rules for Search for a Star In-Hand classes for 2025, horses and ponies from 3-years-old upwards are now eligible to compete In-Hand. This year we have rebranded our Open Veteran class to ‘Still A Star’ to highlight that this class is open to any horse and rider and is the one class other than SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse where our amateur ruling doesn’t apply.”
The New SEIB Search for a Star Amateur In-Hand Rare Breeds, Native and Traditional class is now open to Rare Breeds including Cleveland Bay, Clydesdale, Hackney, Shire and the Suffolk Punch. Elaine Keith, Trustee of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society said: "The opportunity to showcase our rare breed Cleveland Bays at SEIB Search for a Star this year is fantastic. Originally from North Yorkshire, Cleveland Bays are distributed all around the British Isles, so their presence can go unnoticed in the show ring as often the breed falls between class groupings. SEIB Search for a Star has offered our amateur members, their horses and the breed, the chance to shine at this most prestigious show, and an opportunity to touch the holy grail of HOYS and Your Horse Live.”
The Founder and Chair of RESS, former RSPCA Chief Inspector, Cathy Hyde said: “We are excited that RESS will be a part of Search for a Star. We really want RESS to give rescue horses and ponies the opportunity to shine and to demonstrate how successful they can be. We also want to highlight the work of the rescuers and those that take on the task of rehabilitating the equines that have been subjected to cruelty and neglect. Ideally it will also encourage people to consider adopting from the equine charities.” Horse and ponies entered into the Search for a Star Amateur In-Hand Rescue Horse or Pony class must be shown in a bridle with a bit, a coupling is recommended but not obligatory. The history of the rescue horse or pony is required on entering and criteria will be checked by the Rescue Equine Showing Society.
Now licensed from SEIB by the Absolutely Genuine company, Search for a Star qualifying shows offer opportunities for the full range of show horses to earn a place at the series championships at Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live.
The 2025 SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifying shows will take place at:
Sunday 13th April 2025 at Hartpury College, Hartpury House, Gloucester, GL19 3BE.
Sunday 25th May 2025 at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ – courtesy of The Showing Register (TSR) Championship.
Sunday 15th June 2025 at Pickering Grange Equestrian, Grange Farm, Pickering, Ellistown Terrace Rd, Ellistown, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 1EZ.
Sunday 6th July 2025 at Greenlands Equestrian Centre, Wreay, Carlisle, CA4 0RR.
Wednesday 6th August 2025 at Arena UK, Allington Lane, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 2EF – courtesy of Equifest.
Sunday 10th August at NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials, Hartpury College, Hartpury House, Gloucester, GL19 3BE. (Racehorse to Riding Horse ONLY)
Wednesday 13th August at National Hunter Supreme Championship Show, Addington Equestrian Centre, Addington, Buckinghamshire MK18 2JR. (Racehorse to Riding Horse ONLY)
Saturday 16th August at the Pony Club National Championships, Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire CV33 9AW. (SEIB Search for a Star Pony Club classes ONLY)
Sunday 31st August 2025 at the British Riding Clubs NAF Five Star National Championships, Lincolnshire Showground, Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN2 2NA. (SEIB Search for a Star BRC Riding Club Show Horse ONLY)
Sunday 7th September 2025 at Defender Burghley Horse Trials, Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 3JY. (SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse ONLY)
The 2025 SEIB Search for a Star Championships:
Wednesday 8th to Sunday 12th October 2025 at Horse of the Year Show, Brimingham NEC, SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse Championships.
Friday 7th to Sunday 9th November 2024 at Your Horse Live, Stoneleigh Park, SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Still a Star Championships.
The SEIB Search for a Star judges and stewards will be on hand to help and mentor all competitors at qualifying shows.
Search for a Star classes with finals at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) include; hacks, hunters, working pony, working horse, riding horse, traditional gypsy cobs – of any colour, show cobs, and the longstanding SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse championship.
Championship finals at Your Horse Live in Search for a Star include ridden classes for; BRC members, Still a Star open veterans, Pony Club members’ horses and ponies and mountain and moorlands. In-hand classes include; plaited horse including show cobs, plaited pony, native, traditional and rare breeds, mountain and moorland and veteran.
Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please visit www.seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule which will link directly to the Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse entry page on Showing Scene.
Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star over 25 years ago so they could offer a unique competition to many amateur riders. 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.
If you want to insure your horse, horsebox, trailer, yard or business - SEIB are here to help so please give us a call on 01708 850000 or visit www.seib.co.uk.