NORTH Yorkshire rider Patricia Cole has qualified to compete in the South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star Championships at the Horse of the Year Show in October.

Cole, of Glaisdale, near Whitby, earned her coveted place in the final at a recent qualifying show at Osbaldeston. She qualified in the cob class by taking second place on her own Cowboy Magic.

The 11-year-old cob, known as ‘Oliver’ at home, was bought by Cole two years ago when her own thoroughbred mare passed away.

Whitby Riding Club member Cole, who works as a hairdresser, said: “It has been my dream to do something like Horse of the Year, but I didn’t believe I could do it. “I was so happy to get in the final six. That in itself was an achievement, but I thought I would fall off when I was called in second.”

Cole, who has ridden since she was ten, mainly rides her mother’s thoroughbreds and point-to-point racehorses.

She will now compete at the Search For A Star finals at the Horse of the Year Show from October 9 to 13 at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Search For A Star series has been created to encourage amateur riders to produce their horses to a high standard in the show ring and giving them the opportunity to compete at the Horse of the Year Show.