AN AMATEUR rider from Wellesbourne has qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October.
Emma Morrell and Rathnagrew Larry won the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star qualifier at the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern, Worcestershire to earn their place at HOYS.
The duo will now go on to compete under the lights of the HOYS arena at the NEC in Birmingham in early October.
The pair competed in and won the competitive show cob class to secure their place in Birmingham.
And six-year-old horse Larry, owned by Jess Wort, took victory competing at just his third-ever show.
Morrell said: “This result is fantastic. It was a bit of an ask for Larry and the first time he’s been ridden by a ride judge so we’re delighted.”
Larry’s owner Wort added: “We got Larry as a three-year-old from his breeder who he named after himself.
“I bought him to hack around as I liked the look of him. I’m now pregnant so was on the lookout for someone to ride him.
“Emma is truly bitten by the showing bug, she saw his potential and started riding him in January in fun rides and riding club dressage.
“We had no expectations and now six months later we’re off to HOYS.”
