The first ever score of 10 was awarded at a British Breeding young horse evaluation earlier this month.
Furst Opera (pictured below), by Furst Heinrich (Westf) out of a Weltregent (Hann) mare, achieved a record score in the two-year-old dressage section of the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding Futurity Young Horse Evaluation at Arena UK in Lincolnshire on 19 July.
The colt from Georgina Brett’s Gemini Stud was awarded a score of 10 for type and scored more than nine in every other section, giving a record overall average of 93%.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Georgina Brett said: “Gemini Stud are thrilled to have achieved the first Futurity perfect 10 with our future dressage stallion Furst Opera.
Classic Primitive (pictured below) stood champion in the eventing two-year-olds, and reserve in the show jumping equivalent, to continue Gemini Stud’s success. He scored the highest overall average score across two disciplines for any horse since 2004.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“The support of the futurity scheme has given us the confidence to take a long-term view of our British and continental breeding programmes,” explained Georgina. “We’ll continue to use its objective feedback as a firm foundation for the improvement and success of our lines. I feel certain that we can breed world-class dressage horses in the UK.”
More than 60 young horses aged up to four years were presented for evaluation at Arena UK. Of the horses forward, 62% secured a first premium diploma with scores in excess of 80%.
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The futurity scheme has been set up to identify performance potential in young horses and ponies with a view to nurturing talent for long-term competitive success. The horses are judged against a fixed set of criteria developed to assess whether these equine athletes are likely to be able to withstand the rigours of modern competition.
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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.
