The SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers for 2026 will see notable changes, including all qualifying classes being held alongside other shows rather than as stand-alone events. The venues now include prestigious county shows, the Pony Club Championships, and the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, while the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Your Horse Live (YHL) Championships remain unchanged. Additionally, only one combination per qualifying class will advance to the HOYS or YHL championships, allowing for a broader range of qualifying shows across more venues. The amateur rider rule has been updated to exclude riders who have competed at HOYS in the past five seasons.

There will be 19 classes in total, covering a wide variety of categories such as hacks, hunters, working ponies, traditional gypsy cobs, and the Racehorse to Riding Horse championship, with finals split between HOYS and YHL. The full list of qualifying shows spans from March to September 2026 and includes events like the Wiltshire Spring Show, Royal Three Counties Show, Equifest, and the Pony Club Championships. The championships will culminate at HOYS in October and YHL in November, with organizers expressing enthusiasm about the expanded and more integrated competition format.