Okehampton rider qualifies for Horse of the Year Show

Amateur rider Sophie Williams from Okehampton has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October, riding her horse Silver Lily of Mourne.

Sophie and her 7-year-old purebred Irish Draught competed in the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier at Hartpury University, Gloucester, on 13 April. 

They won the Show Hunter class, earning their place at the HOYS Arena at the NEC in October.

Sophie, who works as a nurse, said: “I’ve owned Lily since she was a foal and we’ve done everything together. She’s 7 now and we mainly compete in showing and go hunting on Exmoor together. Lily is one of four Irish Draught full siblings we have, I mainly show the younger ones In-Hand. This is the first time we’ve done Search for a Star, we mainly compete in local and county shows although we qualified for the London Horse Show last year and took 7th place! I work as a nurse and swapped shifts to come to the qualifier today.”

SEIB Search for a Star organiser Nicolina MacKenzie said: “What a start to the season for Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse. There was such a positive atmosphere at Hartpury and the standard of horses and ponies coming forward was fabulous to see.”

The SEIB Search for a Star competition has been running since 1996, offering amateur riders the chance to compete at the Horse of the Year Show. 

It provides opportunities for horses of all types to earn a place at both HOYS and Your Horse Live.