A Chester-based special educational needs teacher and her horse have qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Special educational needs (SEN) teacher Rebecca Davies, and her horse, known as Top Gun, qualified for the renowned event in Birmingham this October.

The pair earned their ticket after travelling to Arena UK near Grantham for the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier on August 1.

Ms Davies and Top Gun, fondly called Otto at home, will now travel to the NEC in Birmingham to compete at the HOYS Arena in the Show Cob class.

This year marks the first time Ms Davies and Top Gun will take part in the show.

Ms Davies said: "Otto is just ace!

"I love him!

"I bred him myself and he now has a full brother on the way.

"This is our first year showing and a friend said we should definitely give Search for a Star a go.

"We went to the qualifier at Stoneleigh and were pulled in first before being dropped down the line.

"I’m so pleased we came back and kept trying!

"I work as a Special Educational Needs teacher and am starting up an Open Equine Alternative Programme which I can’t wait to get going with."

The SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: "What a truly wonderful day we had at Arena UK.

"The unique spirit of SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse was in full flow.

"Thank you to all our fabulous competitors who joined in, supported and celebrated the winners and each other."

The SEIB Search for a Star competition has been taking place since 1996 and has provided countless opportunities for amateur rides to compete at the high-profile Horse of the Year Show.

For more information, you can visit www.seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule.