Amateur equestrian Grace Gibbon and her horse, The Granite Way (nicknamed Fern), earned a place at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham by winning the Working Horse class at the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier held at Pickering Grange. This marked their first HOYS qualifier together, with Grace balancing riding alongside her full-time career as a chartered surveyor. After a decade-long break from riding, she returned to the sport with her mother, who also rides Fern regularly. The SEIB Search for a Star series, running since 1996, offers amateur riders opportunities to compete at top-level events like HOYS, emphasizing learning and improvement with support from judges and stewards.

The Granite Way was acquired through a family friend, and the pair’s success highlights the inclusive and encouraging nature of the Search for a Star competition. Winners from the series qualify for championships at HOYS and Your Horse Live, showcasing a variety of show horse classes across the country. SEIB, known for its specialist equestrian insurance, sponsors the series, supporting riders and their horses in pursuing competitive equestrian goals.