AT their first attempt at qualifying for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Stacy Fletcher and her eight year old Shire mare, Catwg Black Velvet got their golden ticket.

This October, the pair will fly the flag for Wales at the most prestigious indoor showing event at the NEC in Birmingham.

Stacy, daughter of John and Marion Fletcher of Gentle Giants, Moylegrove, near Cardigan competed at the Annual National Shire Horse Spring Show in Stafford last week. She won the Open Ridden Class, won the HOYS qualifier class and went on to be Overall Champion at the world’s biggest gathering of Shire Horses.

Ridden by two ride judges, Stacy and her 18hh mare, bred in Neath by Kerry Tanner, was awarded a high ride mark of 48 out of 50, and Stacy, who works for Frenni Transport in Crymych is still on cloud nine!

"I cried, my dad cried and the breeder cried as we were all just so happy!" said Stacy who was the only ridden competitor from Wales. "We won the British Heavy Horse of the Year last year and we are very, very proud.

"We had planned to put her in foal this year but that won’t be happening now. We will just take her to a few shows and a few heavy horse demonstrations then she will have a break before the big competition in October. She won’t be pulling any carts either!" laughed Stacy whose father John broke the mare in for riding and driving.

"I don’t care about the result we’ll get at HOYS. As nice as it would be to win, qualifying is a massive achievement and I can’t thank my family enough for the support I’ve had. My aunty Julia Morris must also be thanked for keeping the mare fit for me while I’ve been at work," concluded Stacy.