IN BRIEF

MORE CHANCES FOR STARS TO SHINE

CHANGES to the eligibility rules for the popular SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) series mean the doors are open wider this year.

The ban on any past HOYS open appearance by owners and/or riders has been reduced from 20 to 10 years — provided the other “amateur” criteria are met — and previous The Showing Register (TSR) Masterclass participants are now eligible for SFAS.

Partnerships which have previously competed in open ranks at RIHS are also now eligible for SFAS, provided they were not placed in the top 10 of their class at Hickstead. The word “show” has been removed from the working section, which will now be known simply as “working horse or pony”.

“This is our 20th year at Horse of the Year Show, so it seemed an appropriate time to review our rules,” said SEIB marketing manager Nicolina MacKenzie. “We wanted to enable more competitors to take part in the Search for a Star experience and now they can.”

THOMAS DOWN UNDER

Producer Peter Thomas — a former HOYS winner in several categories — has moved to Perth, Western Australia, and married Kathryn Bates on 31 January.

ORGANISERS NEEDED

Senior Showing and Dressage (SSADL) is hoping to increase the number of first-round qualifiers for the Olympia Anthony Evans Home Produced final, and is appealing for interested organisers to make contact. Please email info@ seniorshowinganddressage.co.uk