Samantha Lea won the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Championship at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Irish sport horse Redshaw Valentino (Henry) was ridden to perfection by Samantha under the bright lights of the HOYS main arena to win the Search for a Star title.

Samantha said: “I’m so overwhelmed to win, it was totally unexpected!

“Henry always does his best and he’s usually so laid back that it really helped him shine in the HOYS atmosphere.”

Samantha’s almost one-year-old son Hugo was at ringside to support his mother.

Samantha continued: “Henry and I competed on Search for a Star in 2022 and the judge said he needed some time to mature. We had the 2023 season off and we brought him back working slowly and steadily, we qualified for the first time and now we have won!”

To win the overall SEIB Search for a Star title, Samantha and Henry won their qualifier in June 2024. They then won the Show Hunter Final at HOYS before progressing to the SEIB Search for a Star Championship in the main international HOYS arena with the other six winners in the Find a Star section. Each championship combination put on a show of their choosing in front of judges Katie Jerram-Hunnable, Chris Hunnable and international judge JJ Kemp, from South Africa, in a tense atmosphere under the bright lights of the HOYS main arena.

Redshaw Valentino has the perfect bloodlines to succeed in the ring. He was raised by Joanne Shaw.

Joanne said: “Henry is out of my show mare, Pebbly Diva Du, she won the Supreme at the Royal International Horse Show and has bred 10 foals since. Henry’s full brother has also been at HOYS in the small hacks. Henry was just perfect as a foal and as a young horse; I am overwhelmed by this victory!”

Samantha runs an equine rug cleaning business on the family farm, where Henry also lives. She’s had Henry for almost three years now. She added: “My friend bought Henry from his breeder to take Working Hunter lessons. I saw him over the stable door and fell in love with him!”