Hi everyone

Laura and Thomas here:

I’d like to say well to done to Jessica Cook, who’s 19, and just qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star Cob class at Horse of the Year Show. Jessica's cob Spartacus isn't your regular show horse - he was rescued, along with his mum, in 2004 by Millhouse Animal Sanctuary in Sheffield.

Spartacus's mum Tia came to the sanctuary after she was found on the roadside, she was very poor and weak after being neglected for so long. She had Spartacus (stable name Charlie) and Jessica and her sis took the pair on, unsure if either would make a full recovery. After some serious TLC, mother and foal got back to full fitness and last year Tia pulled out all the stops to win the Search for a Star Cob class and now Spartacus (and Jessica) is trying to following in this mum's hoofprints this year!

This is a pic of Spartacus as a young foal with his mum Tia, just after they were rescued.

Spartacus looks awesome now. This pic was taken as he qualified for HOYS.

Stories like this are great, they just show what a bit of love, care and TLC can do (and also what a great job all those charities out there do).

So everyone keep an eye out for the pair at HOYS. The show is running from Oct 8-12, all the top riders will be there along with some great displays too. Visit www.hoys.co.uk to find out more.