A HORSE rider from Dursley has beaten off stiff competition in a qualifier and is now through to the Horse of the Year Show.

Self-taught Sharon Moss from Field Lane took first place in the Cob class at the South Essex Insurance Broker’s (SEIB) Search for a Star 2014 qualifier, held at Bury Farm Equestrian Village in Buckinghamshire.

Riding her horse, Mister Tumble, Sharon fought off other contenders in the class to gain qualification for the Horse of The Year Show.

The mother of one, who has owned the heavyweight cob for a year, said he had been for sale as his previous owner was very ill.

“She said when we bought him that she thought he had the potential to go to HOYS, and now we are going! I am delighted, particularly as we haven’t done much preparation in the run up to today,” she said.

“Mister Tumble has had a cough for the past few weeks and he has only really completely shaken it of recently.

“We were due to go to a dressage show last weekend, but we pulled out as I wanted to give him every chance to do well today. It has definitely paid off”

Mister Tumble and Sharon, who has been riding since she was a toddler, have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the heavyweight cobs class. Sharon added, “To qualify for HOYS is what I really had my heart set on, I have been trying to qualify for the Search for a Star HOYS finals for the past three years.”

The pair will compete at The South Essex Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Championship finals at the Horse of the Year Show, in October at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.