BEF Futurity heads west to Bicton

Fairheath-Rosamunde-Credit-Eclipse-Photos-e1407251779245.jpg — (Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

Three youngsters attained elite premiums at the most recent Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity which continued at Bicton College on Sunday, 3 August.

Jay Milton’s filly foal, Fairheath Rosamunde (pictured top) (Romanov x De Niro) made the journey from Truro to Bicton to take the top score of the day of 9.16 in the dressage section for an elite premium. The evaluators described her as a “modern dressage type who shows suppleness and elasticity in all paces.” Jay said: “I can’t believe it! She is not only beautiful and moves well, but has a very biddable nature. This is the fourth foal we have bred from our mare, Divia.”

“Southstone Elektra’s dam is an Exmoor hunting machine. I have owned her since she was six and she is now 20. I kept thinking that as soon as she got too old for hunting we would breed a foal from her, but she has never shown any signs of wanting to stop hunting, so she had a break at 17 to have the foal and is now back out in the hunting field. Southstone Elektra was going to be my next hunter, but I think now that this might change. Ideally she will go eventing”.

an elite premium of 9.02. This filly foal is owned and bred by Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist, Amy Cox from Bideford. The evaluators said: “She is light, athletic and expressive with a great walk.” Pretty Picture is out of Amy’s mare, Pretty Women, who has competed on FEI Pony Dressage teams for Germany and Britain. Amy said: “I am just thrilled, both my mother and I were quietly hoping Pretty Picture would get an elite as she is so smart.”

Yearling, Secret Legacy (Cevin Z x Windsor Heights) took the highest score of her age group at Bicton, with a higher first premium of 8.93 in the eventing section for owner and breeder, Joanna Price. Secret Legacy’s dam, Legende Top Secret is also homebred by Joanna and is out competing at Novice BE level with Sophie Hawke where she has been placed every time out this season. Joanna said: “My daughter, Caroline Bullen was over in Germany and she saved some mares from the abattoir. There were several of them and she found homes for all of them. We kept one ourselves; Legend R, who has had seven foals in the UK and all are extremely good looking, nice movers. We are now onto another new generation”.

Heading the three-year-olds at Bicton was Kari Christopher’s colt, Vorvashill Vertigo (Grafenstolz x Dutch Falco) with a higher first premium of 8.84. This eventing colt has proved very consistent and recorded a higher first at each of his four annual trips to the Futurity. Kari said: “I am very pleased with what he did, this was only the third time he has loose jumped. We will break him in and get him hacking over the winter and he will hopefully go for the equine bridge”.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS