Shows - What’s On

NEW VETERAN CLASS: ADDED TO LINE-UP

SEIB Search for a Star 2021 is set to include exciting new classes for amateur show riders. Search for a Star ridden and virtual veterans and Search for a Star part-bred traditional ridden cobs have been added to this ever-popular series. The champions in these new classes – all being well – will be crowned at finals to be held at Your Horse Live in November. Virtual classes will go ahead in April and it is hoped that the ridden qualifiers will take place later in the year.

Search for a Star first took place back in 1996 and over the years has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at championship shows. Traditionally the highlight of Search for a Star is the opportunity to qualify and compete at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). In recent years, in addition to the HOYS finals, Search for a Star now has championship classes in the main arena at Your Horse Live as well. For 2021, it is intended that all classes for the ever-popular SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse series will get underway with qualifiers beginning early in the summer months. The SEIB team organising Search for a Star are working closely with Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live. The SEIB team will add details of qualifiers and venues to www.seib.co.uk/competitions as they become available. Search for a Star classes with finals at HOYS include; hacks, hunters, working pony, working horses, riding horses, traditional gypsy cobs – of any colour, show cobs, and the longstanding SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse final. Search for a Star qualifiers in the mountain and moorland classes, veteran horse or pony and part-bred traditional cob will head to Your Horse Live for their championships. SEIB Marketing Manager Nicolina MacKenzie said: “Will we run this year, won’t we, who knows!? But we seriously hope to. The plan is there, we are just willing that circumstances allow it to happen. Our main concern is that everyone stays safe.” In the meantime, for competitors to get their eye in after a long break for many, the second round of Virtual Search for a Star is set to take place on 10th - 11th April at Your Horse Virtually Live. Photo entries for these classes will be judged by members of the team of Search for a Star judges, with detailed feedback for the winning horses and ponies. Virtual Search for a Star will include classes for mountain and moorlands, show hunters, riding horses, hacks, show cobs, diamond pony, traditional cobs, part-bred traditional cobs, RDA horse or pony, racehorses with amateur owner / riders and new for 2021, veterans. Entries are open until 8th March 2021. Search for a Star is purely for amateur riders and this rule is very strictly enforced. The ridden SEIB Horse of the Year Show Racehorse to Riding Horse class is open to professional and amateur riders. SEIB support ethical showing and testing for prohibited substances and tack inspections may take place. The Search for a Star full schedule will be released in due course.

www.seib.co.uk/competitions

DRESSAGE AT HICKSTEAD Dressage will continue at one of the country’s most famous showgrounds, with the All England Jumping Course set to host a Premier League show in May 2021. The three-day fixture (21st-23rd May) will include classes from Advanced Medium to Grand Prix, with entries expected from a number of British Dressage’s leading riders. More than £500,000 has been spent on making several existing grass rings into two vast allweather arenas, with top of the range Andrews Bowen surfaces. During the winter months, these arenas are used for cross-country and showjumping schooling courses, but at the beginning of the 2021 summer season they will be transformed to create a Premier League dressage venue with a number of arenas running concurrently as well as an international sized warm-up arena.

For Horse Lovers! HORSEFEST:

EXCITING NEW SUMMER FESTIVAL

Want to spend time with like-minded horse lovers in a picturesque outdoor location this coming summer?

HorseFest is a new, three-day festival, taking place from 23rd 25th July, for all those horse fans with an interest in the equine world, allowing them to come together, learn, celebrate, have fun and create special memories. Held at Weston Park in Shropshire, you can camp or ‘glamp’ to fully embrace the outdoors, experience festival life and feel part of the HorseFest tribe. The event promises a packed line-up that includes a variety of interactive and inclusive performances and demonstrations from top riders and experts across all areas of the equestrian world, allowing HorseFest festivalgoers to learn and develop their own knowledge in an inspirational and caring environment. Already signed up to appear are mother and daughter eventing duo, Mary and Emily King and event rider and presenter Jonty Evans, with the much heralded Cooley Rorkes Drift, known as Art, who captured the hearts of thousands when crowd-funding saved Jonty from losing the ride. The very own Tiger himself, Jay Halim, will be passing on his showjumping tips for the top, while Grand Prix dressage rider, Sam Turner, will showcase the training techniques that have seen her reach the upper echelons of the sport with her traditional gypsy cob, Billy Whiz. Steph Croxford, so well-known for her incredible partnership with Mr President, will impart her many years of knowledge. Natural horseman Jason Webb and performance psychologist Charlie Unwin are set to entertain with an exciting collaboration. While action man extraordinaire, Ben Atkinson, highly regarded for his liberty work and classical dressage, is sure to leave you inspired and enthralled with his incredible team of horses.

www.horsefest.org

SHOWING COUNCIL: UPDATE

2021 brings two further members to The Showing Council and swells the number of showing organisations who now come under its umbrella to eighteen.

The Shire Horse Society, an original founder member, has re-joined and the Veteran Horse Society joins for the first time. David Ingle, Chairman of the Council said, “We are sure both societies will be an asset to the organisation and assist in the various discussions, currently taking place.” Throughout last year, the Council produced its ‘Blueprint’ for holding shows under Covid Regulations, which is the only document recognised by the British Equestrian Federation and Sport England. The document has proved to invaluable to Show Secretaries. Any Show Secretaires requiring a copy should contact The Showing Council.

www.theshowing council.co.uk

Firle Place Country Show and Horse Trials has been chosen as one of the prestigious venues for the new Science Supplements Area Festivals. Organised by the team at BEDE Events, Firle Place is taking place 15th - 16th May, and is held in the South Downs National Park in the village of Firle, Sussex.

Said Stuart Buntine of BEDE: “We are delighted to be hosting the first of the exciting new Science Supplements Area Festivals at Firle. They are a fantastic new initiative for the sport in general but especially for grass roots riders wanting to work towards a championship atmosphere in a stunning location. “We are really hoping to be able to have spectators attending but are like many other events currently waiting for guidance on whether we can goahead and allow public admission.”

www.bede-events.co.uk