British-bred futurity scheme unveiled
A new scheme to promote and improve the quality of British-bred horses has been announced by British Breeding, following the success of the Young Horse Evaluation Series for four-year-olds.
The Breeders Cup Futurity Scheme will carry a substantial annual prize fund with classes for foals, yearlings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds and four-year-olds in the Olympic disciplines of eventing, dressage and show jumping.
The foals and youngstock up to three years will be assessed for:
- conformation
- paces in-hand on the triangle (foals will be shown loose)
- suitability of type for intended discipline
Four-year-olds will be assessed as part of the SEIB/British Breeding Young Horse Evaluations. Five- and six-year-olds will be included from 2005, with the winners being calculated from performances in existing competitions.
Prize money, which will be a percentage of the annual entry fees, will be distributed to owners and breeders of the winning horses and their sires, where stallion owners have subscribed to the scheme. Some of each year’s entry fees will be used swell the prize fund available for the winner of the prestigious six-year-old class.
The entry fee will be £50 per foal, with an annual fee each year thereafter, which includes entry to one evaluation per year. The stallion nomination fee will be based upon the horse’s stud fee and be on a sliding scale of between £50 and £150 per stallion per year.
Graham Suggett, BEF consultant director of breeding, says: “The scheme offers breeders a substantial cash incentive to breed the very best foals they can. Over time this will encourage everyone to think more carefully about breeding, which will raise the overall standard of British-bred horses.”
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The first British Breeding Futurity Championships will be held on Thursday 23 September 2004 at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe in Bedfordshire, and the organisers are encouraging early entry. Entry forms will be available shortly from: www.bef.co.uk/britishbreeding.htm
For further details please contact Celia Clarke, Entries Secretary, 85 Fishers Field, Buckingham, MK18 1SF or e-mail: celia@cwath.demon.co.uk
Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.