News
Posted on April 27th, 2015
Rise in Royal Windsor Showing Entries
For the third year running, showing entries for this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place on 13-17 May, are once again up on the previous year.
Royal Windsor is regarded as the first major event of the summer show season, and organisers of the UK’s largest outdoor show have received a total of 1,863 showing entries – a 4% increase from 2014, demonstrating that the five-day spectacular is as popular as ever.
Royal Windsor Horse Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We strive to make Royal Windsor Horse Show as enjoyable as possible for competitors and it is great to see that it maintains its popularity among the Showing community. We have made particular efforts to encourage showing competitors by reviewing our schedule and trying to improve the showing competitor’s experience at the event and these have certainly paid off.”
Posted on April 27th, 2015
British Eventing: Camera Statement
After a lengthy discussion at the recent British Eventing Risk Management Committee meeting, it was decided that BE would continue not to grant permissions for cameras to be worn during BE Affiliated competition. This will be maintained until further research is done into the mounting of cameras, to examine whether or not they exacerbate injury in the event of a fall.
A significant amount of time has been spent discussing this particular subject in recent months and the decision has not been taken lightly.
BE sees safety and welfare as the number one priority and takes this responsibility very seriously.
The composition of the Safety Committee includes Senior Medical advisers and whilst recognising some people’s desire to use cameras, the Committee is mindful of the possible injuries that could be sustained in a fall if certain types of cameras are used. However, BE shall continue to try to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
Posted on April 21st, 2015
Local rider qualifies for HOYS 2015
Katie Jerram, from Great Dunmow, took first place in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse 2015 class qualifier, held at Osbaldeston Riding Centre in Lancashire. Riding HM The Queen’s Barbers Shop, Katie fought off stiff competition from other riders in the class to gain qualification for the Horse of The Year Show.
Barbers Shop was bred by HM The Queen and trained by Nicky Henderson. He ran a total of 24 times including finishing in 7th place in the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He had 8 wins and several placings accumulating prize money of over £140,000 and last ran in 2012. Katie Jerram and Barbers Shop won the Hickstead ROR final in 2013 and they have been finalists in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse HOYS Championship for the last 2 years, finishing 5th in 2013 but a skin rash meant they were unable to take part in the final last year.
“He is such a star. Since last season I have been riding him side saddle and he came out to win the Ladies Hunter at the South of England Spring Show last week. He is now doing his retrained job in open Side Saddle classes”, said Katie. They plan to do more side saddle classes and will compete in the ROR at Windsor as well as the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class at Burghley before heading to HOYS in October.
Katie will compete at the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Championship finals at the Horse of The Year Show, 7th – 11th October 2015, at the Birmingham NEC.
The Search for a Star competition rules, comprehensive information, a downloadable schedule and entry form are available from www.search4astar.org.uk, as well as the latest news, details of previous winners, what to wear and a great forum for riders to share their views.
Further information is available from www.facebook.com/SEIB.LTD, AND www.facebook.com/SEIB.Search4AStar.
Photo: SMR Photos
Posted on April 13th, 2015
Essex Showjumper Michaela Huntington wins the Haygain Hay Steamers Diamond Final
Record entries, beautiful spring weather, a flower-bedecked championship arena, rugs, sashes, jackets and equine prizes made for a special, five day extravaganza in the 24th year of the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, where dreams were won and lost in the Hartpury Arena.
Already a winner of two classes, the first two-phase and a qualifying class, Michaela Huntington made it three with the Haygain Hay Steamers Diamond Championship on Andrea Pearman’s 16 year-old piebald stallion Drumhowan Cavalier.
“I love these championships, I haven’t missed a year since I was 12,” said Michaela, “and this class was made for him.”
Running from October to March, eligible horse and rider combinations competed for the chance to qualify for the Blue Chip Showjumping Winter Championships at shows allocated all over the country. (Photo: British Showjumping)
Posted on April 9th, 2015
Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers at Houghton Hall on 10th May
The 2015 SEIB Search for a Star series continues on the 10th May at Houghton Hall Equestrian & Alpaca Centre in Cambridgeshire.
SEIB Search for a Star was created in the 1990’s by leading insurance company, SEIB Insurance Brokers and provides the opportunity for amateur riders to qualify for the Search for a Star finals at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) each year.
Over this time, Search for a Star has become the pinnacle of ambition for many amateur riders and provided numerous success stories. Several horses and riders that have been successful in Search for a Star have gone on to compete in open classes with great success.
The SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star series takes place at five qualifying shows over the spring and summer throughout the country for the all-important HOYS final. Each qualifier follows the same format, with classes for Working Hunter, Riding Club Show Horse, Show Hunter, Show and Show Hunter Ponies, Riding Horse and Hacks and Cob classes.
Search for a Star judges include the very experienced Richard Ramsay and David Bartram who will be joined by David Ingle and Chris Lawton for the 2015 season. The Search for a Star judges are frequently on hand to answer any questions after each qualifying class. Competitors often find that, having listened to the advice given after the class and worked hard before their next show, they come back to a subsequent qualifier and their performance is much improved.
Running alongside SEIB Search for a Star is the popular SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship series, also with a prestigious final at Horse of the Year Show. This class was started over 10 years ago by SEIB to give support and encourage the re-education of thoroughbreds; re-schooling them and preparing them for a new career. This Championship series helps to recognise the abilities of the many horses that come out of racing each year. Such is the draw of this class that from 2013 the winner of the HOYS SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship now goes forward for the judging of the HOYS Supreme Horse of the Year. The first qualifier for the 2015 series of SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse also takes place on the 10th May at Houghton Hall Equestrian & Alpaca Centre
Leading equine insurers, SEIB Insurance Brokers provide cover for horses, horse boxes, yards and much more. “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”, said Nicolina MacKenzie, Marketing Manager at SEIB Insurance Brokers.
Photograph: Rebecca Clark from Fakenham qualifying for HOYS in Search for a Star 2014 at Houghton Hall. SMR Photos.
