LITTLE Warren Fentiman from Malton has qualified for the Royal International Horse Show.

The five-year-old clinched his place at the prestigious show after he made the trip to the area 5 Three Shires spring show with his mother, Kirby, and mount Barkway Little Star.

Having purchased Barkway Little Star as a three-year-old, the Fentimans began her showing career last year with great success being placed at all her Horse of the Year qualifiers.

The trio have tackled two other Royal International show qualifiers this year and were knocking on the door both times. This time at the Three Shires their dreams came true.

They came away with the mini lead rein reserve in a strong class which was won by another Barkway Stud contingent, Barkway Tia Dalma who is produced by Katy Carter and owned by Sarah Bennett who have already got their ticket for the RIHS, which means it was then passed down to Warren and Barkway Little Star.

Kirby said “I burst into tears when they called the winning ticket, it was like a fairytale.”

Another local rider eating up the qualifiers is Lucy Dyer, 15, from Norton.

She took both her ponies, Sarum Jester and Sorrelcourt Talisker, to the Area 4 NPS show at Richmond to compete in the mountain and moorland working hunter classes.

Sarum Jester, aged 12, competed in the 122cm Royal International qualifier and intermediate mountain and moorland novice working hunter class against strong competition where the pair came up trumps on both occasions. They were crowned champions of the day and gained their place at the RIHS.

Lucy’s relatively new pony, Sorrelcourt Tallisker, who she has only owned since September last year, finished second in the 133cms intermediate working hunter class.

Lucy’s mother, Shelley said: “Lucy works so hard with her ponies and has been trying to qualify for the RIHS for eight years. I am so pleased she finally gets her dream.” Lucy and her ponies will now start to concentrate on the Horse of the Year show qualifiers which will begin next month.