AN amateur rider from Furness has qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Caroline Airey, of Ulverston, rode her home-bred horse, Urswick Rock Solid, to runner-up spot in the hunter class at the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier at Vale View Equestrian Centre in Leicestershire to qualify.

“I can’t believe we have gone and qualified for HOYS, it is pretty much a lifelong dream for anyone that is into horses to one day have the chance to ride there," said Caroline. "Everyone in Urswick Rock Solid’s family has the best temperament, they all hack around the farm and go to the local shows.

"This result – and the really positive comments from the judges at Search for a Star – has inspired me to think about getting out to some county shows with him next year.”

Caroline and her husband have a small-holding and also breed pedigree Suffolk sheep.

“We take the sheep that we have bred to the county shows, and it is great to be off to HOYS with a horse we have bred.” said Caroline, who works as a postwoman.

SEIB Insurance Brokers set up the Search for a Star series over 20 years ago to give amateur riders and their horses the chance to compete at the Horse of the Year Show.