TADLEY rider and horse trainer, Hannah Horton took first prize in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on Saturday, August 10.

Hannah rode top former racehorse, Migration to the win resulting in a coveted ticket for the pair to the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at the Birmingham NEC this October. Migration has been gifted to Anthony and Georgina Andrews and Hannah Horton by the Gail Brown Racing Syndicate.

There was just one Horse of the Year Show ticket on offer at Hartpury resulting in strong competition between the 20 thoroughbreds going before judges Lucy Killingbeck (conformation) and Louise Daly (ride). Hannah and the beautiful bay will now have the chance to perform under the bright lights of the HOYS International Arena in early October to vie for SEIB Championship title.

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Hannah Horton and MigrationHannah said: “Migration is loving life in the show-ring. He finds it so easy and is very trainable and eager to learn. He was superb at Hartpury at what was just his third show and first time going indoors. I’m sure he will take HOYS in his stride! We don’t want to rush him and will do a few novice hack classes to give him time.”

Eight-year-old Migration was in training with David Menuisier in West Sussex for whom he won over £200,000 in win and place money, including winning the Lincoln in 2023. Hannah continued: “Migration came out to run in the Lincoln again on the 23rd March this year and decided he didn’t want to go. David Menuisier and the Gail Brown Racing Syndicate straightaway started looking for a good home for him and he has been gifted to Georgina, Anthony and myself to go showing. I received a lovely message from David saying it was ‘so lovely to see him back to winning’. Georgina and Anthony always said they would love a racehorse, after they sadly lost their horse Overdrive and Migration is a very good horse.”

SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse organiser, Nicolina Mackenzie said: “What an honour it is for us to continue to support these wonderful horses in their second careers in the show ring. It’s fabulous to see a horse as special as this out truly enjoying himself.”