Dates for 2011

 Entries open 1st June at 10.00am

BEF Futurity Website

Full 2009 Results

British Equestrian Federation
Futurity 2009 Young Horse Evaluations

Report by Sallie Dudley
The scheme is aimed at identifying potential world class equine athletes, and until this year had concentrated solely on the Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing.  Due to the hard work and perseverance of some of EGB’s officers (stand up Jo Claridge and Di Latham), they were persuaded to broaden the scope to include a section for endurance at 4 venues this year as a pilot.

The scheme is open to British bred youngstock (foal to 3 years) and ‘grading days’ are held across the country.  In 2009, endurance was included at The Grange (Okehampton, Devon), Plumpton College (Lewes, East Sussex), Richmond Equestrian Centre (North Yorkshire), and Solihull (West Midlands).  The scheme is becoming increasingly popular with breeders of performance horses, and two of the twelve venues were so over subscribed that additional dates had to be laid on – both of which were included in the endurance pilot, so we had a total of 6 grading days available.

Horses are assessed one at a time, being marked against the criteria for the discipline in which it is entered.  Potential dressage horses, for example, are required to have natural engagement and elevation, giving an impression of working uphill.  Show jumpers have a very similar criteria (they need to power over the fences), but tend towards a lighter frame, and eventers are required to show a lower frame with a ground covering gallop.

For endurance, the criteria concentrated on free, flowing paces with engagement, but without excessive elevation, and a calm, sensible temperament.

The first assessment is carried out by a vet who is experienced in working with top level sports horses.  He considers the physical attributes of the candidate, and takes into account any conformation or developmental problems that are likely to impact on the future soundness of the horse.  They are able to discuss any such issues with the handler/owner and to suggest what needs to be done to improve things, if necessary.

The second part of the assessment takes place in an indoor arena, where a panel of assessors look at the horse.  The assessors are all experienced in sports horse production, and there is usually a dressage expert, a show jumper and an eventer.  For endurance, it was imperative that EGB provided experienced assessors,  and I am told it was a learning curve for all concerned – the Olympic disciplines learning what makes a horse likely to compete successfully at 160km level, whilst they imparted their wealth of knowledge in regards to general athleticism.

Initially, the panel look at the horse (hopefully) standing still, assessing general conformation.  The horse is then led around a large triangle, which allows the assessors to see the horse from in front, behind and the side.  This is carried out in both walk and trot, and then the youngster is turned loose and ‘encouraged’ to show canter.  Eventers in particular are required to also show gallop – interesting in the confines of an indoor arena!

Even more fun (at least for the spectators in the gallery – I would not want to be in the arena at this point!) is that the 3 year old show jumpers and eventers are then loose jumped down a lane of 3 fences – cross pole, upright and spread.  Each horse negotiates the lane 3 times, and they are expected to learn from any mistakes they make and try a different approach the next time.

The guidance notes issued to participants suggest taking a bucket of feed into the arena with you, in the hope that you will then be able to catch the by now hyped up youngster.  It was interesting to note that, on the whole, the endurance people did not bother – they just walked up to their horses and caught them.  My own candidate, Bliss, simply wandered over to say hello to all the interesting people.

At Richmond, in a strong wind, an advertising banner came loose.  I am told that the warmbloods were in full panic – the endurance horses simply got on with grazing the adjacent verge!

The quality of horses forward was generally high, and the number of First Premiums awarded reflected this.  It is interesting to note that the majority were actually partbred Arab rather than pure, though this appeared to make no difference to the gradings achieved.

A number of the endurance candidates were also entered in a second category, generally eventing, and also held their own there.

All the results are held on the National Equine Database, recorded against the horse forward for grading, and the dam and the sire.  The information is available to the public, and it is hoped that eventually it will be possible to identify those blood lines which most reliably produce horses for each discipline – a long term goal, but one which has long been talked about.

It would appear that most of the endurance fraternity found it a worthwhile exercise, and endurance will continue to form part of the series in 2010.

The main problem people encountered in 2009 was that with only 4 venues holding endurance evaluations, it was too far to travel with young horses.  Let us hope that, with support from all breeders of endurance horses, we can get more venues involved next year.

The full details of the Futurity Evaluation Scheme can be found on the BEF website http://www.bef.co.uk/British_Breeding/Futurity_Young_Horse_Evaluations.html

Full 2009 Results

British Equestrian Federation
Futurity 2009 Young Horse Evaluations at the Grange

Report By: Jo Claridge Endurance GB Vice-Chair

As a member of the EGB Management Committee I have been working with the BEF for some time to persuade them to include Endurance Horses in their Futurity Grading Scheme.  The scheme was designed to pinpoint potential Olympic Discipline horses as foals, yearlings, 2 and 3 year olds before they start competing, so that they can be trained and developed in line with the aspirations of their owners for becoming an elite athlete.  I strongly felt that athletic Endurance Horses could be spotted at an early age too and consulted Kieran O’Brian  (FEI Endurance Vet) and several EGB Team selectors to produce a set of criteria on which an evaluation of a young endurance horse could be based.  Basically good conformation is the key, but attitude, an ability to learn quickly and a sensible personality are all aspects of a top endurance horse.

I was thrilled when the BEF agreed to hold 4 pilot venues this year around the country and even more so when they filled up so quickly that a fifth at Solihull was included.

Kieran, Di Latham and Maggie Maguire attended the training day at the Catherston Stud which they thoroughly enjoyed and found really informative. 

I had decided to enter two of my home-bred youngsters at the Grange, Okehampton and Rachael and I worked on introducing them to the trailer as neither the yearling colt or 3 year old filly were used to travelling.  Unfortunately when the day dawned  Shahlisha (filly) decided she didn’t want to go to the party and after half an hour of her standing on the ramp in the pouring rain we put her back in the field and concentrated on the colt.  Ali Shamahl is a yearling colt by Ali Bey (frozen semen)  out of our lovely brood mare Shahlua.  Although he is not black like his father Ali is a very smart dark bay with a star and has such a nice temperament.  Silver Mistrahl had to act as babysitter and go to the futurity too in the trailer – he was very indignant when left behind on his own – but quickly settled to munch his way through his haynet.

Ali has never been to an indoor school before – indeed he has never been anywhere before where there are strange horses, mirrors and lots of people looking at him -however, he took it all in his stride and despite whirling around Rachael a bit in the collecting area he walked and trotted up for the vet although he wasn’t too keen on standing still.  Once in the ring he had to walk and trot again for the evaluation panel of 5 eminent judges, then we had to turn him loose and make him trot and canter freely round the school.  Of course he turned and fled for the exit!  Eventually we persuaded him to canter and show off his lovely floating trot.  Then Rachael did a rugby tackle to catch him again (they suggest you come armed with a bucket of food!).  Hugh Salmon (Senior Team Vet) had advised the evaluation panel on the endurance horses and he delivered their verdict on my pride and joy – a First Premium and the comment “National and perhaps International Endurance Horse” on his score sheet.  I was so proud of Ali!

Clutching his rosettes – First Premium, Champion Yearling and Endurance GB Special (courtesy of Sallie Dudley – a great supporter of Evaluations for young Endurance horses) we loaded him back in the trailer with Misty and had a well earned cup of coffee! 

Putting your horse up for judging is always a two edged sword and this grading is designed to look for the potential equine athlete which may do well in the future in their chosen discipline.  The Elite Premium score is very rare and a lovely skewbald foal managed to attain that grade at the Grange. 

The evaluators come from all disciplines – Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping and I was privileged to be included as the Endurance advisor to the panel at the Futurity Grading at Plumpton, East Sussex at the end of July.  It was fascinating to see the process from the other side and I thoroughly enjoyed the day.  I have been thrilled to see endurance riders bringing in their young horses and hopefully we can track their progress as they progress with their careers.

This exciting initiative should put the breeding of Endurance Horses right up where it should be – on an equal footing with the other major disciplines.  These classes are very popular so do watch the BEF website for information and if you missed out this year prepare your young horses so that they do you credit in the Evaluations next year!

British Equestrian Federation
Futurity 2009 Young Horse Evaluations at Rickmond

Report by: Karen Corr

We first heard about the BEF Futurity in EGB magazine earlier this year. This sounded like a really interesting event where potential show-jumpers, eventers and dressage horses are assessed by a vet and other professionals from the sports. It was rumoured that potential endurance horses might be included in 2009. Sallie Dudley then informed everyone via the EGB Forum that Endurance was being trialled at a number of venues for the first time. I eagerly watched the BEF website in anticipation for a venue near to us. Unfortunately, the nearest was to be Richmond in North Yorkshire which is a 5 hour round trip for us. However, come the opening date for entries, I swiftly entered online. The job was done, we were taking our two 2 year old Arab fillies to Richmond on the 11^th August.

In preparation for the event we entered our pair into some local Arab and Agricultural shows to get them used to loading and travelling. This went surprisingly smoothly with the exception that Hamra insists on trying to get into the same bay as Charlotte when she is loaded last! She then stands on the ramp with a look of disgust on her face (quite a common look for this young madam) and after a brief moment of huffsville follows you into the remaining bay!

And so to a little background about the 2 young ladies we were taking to be evaluated. Charlotte ( Riyah Raquassah) is home-bred by the pure Bahraini stallion Krayaan Dilmun out of a little Crabbet/ Old English mare I used to own called Indian Nuhra. Charlotte’s dam is by Al Amik (advanced endurance horse, sadly deceased) and out of one of Beatrice Payne’s Crabbet mares Indian Sylphide (again sadly no longer with us).  Indian Nuhra completed one endurance ride with me, where she won best novice, before being sold to carry on a career in endurance with Janet Kirkham in Surrey. Krayaan Dilmun stands at Pearl Island Arabians and is also the sire of our other filly Hamra bint Krayaan. Hamra’s dam has good endurance bloodlines too. Hazzina is by Chatanz (who stands at Warren’s Hill Arabians) out of a Bahraini mare. She was bought by my other half Bond to keep Charlotte company when she was weaned and as his future endurance horse. We also have at home their half brother Jalaal ibn Krayaan who at 7yrs old has upgraded to Advanced level this year. Hiding in the background is the 5yr old Subah bin Janoob, who is related to Hamra though his sire Al Reeh Janoob whose sire is Chatanz, and his dam is Hamra’s grand-dam. There are now a number of top performing horses out on the circuit with Bahraini bloodlines, and a few now qualifying at FEI level.

Back to the BEF Futurity…I have to say that everyone involved with this event was extremely helpful. We were advised that the fillies should wear traditional in-hand bridles, and to practice the evaluation at home. Everyone is allocated their bridle numbers, vetting and evaluation time about 1 week before the event and we aimed to arrive about an hour before to give the fillies time to settle. They travelled well and we met up with some friends who decided to come along and take some snaps and make a video of the day for us.

All the vettings and evaluations were pretty much running to schedule. Hamra was first to be vetted. She was stood in front of the vet who walked round and took in her conformation from all angles. She was then asked to walk away and back in a straight line and repeat this in trot. He then assessed her foot balance. When this was done, he told Bond what he thought and if there was anything to watch out for in the future. Everything was pretty minor and the main comment was that she was a bit lean on her hindquarters but that this would obviously change with work and maturity. Next up was Charlotte, and his comments mirrored Hamra’s – so he wasn’t surprised when I told him they were half sisters. He said that they were spookily similar. This comment made us laugh since we think they are completely different but then we know their individual personalities and he was looking at the overall picture.

Hamra then had to go in for her evaluation. I was a tad worried about this since they were going to have to be separated but in the end Charlotte and I were able to watch them over the door into the indoor arena. Hamra was soooo laid back. The panel of evaluators (which included Maggie Maguire as the endurance representative) asked to see her stood up in front of them and they all milled round her to assess her conformation at various angles.  She was then walked and trotted round a 20m triangle. Then came the exciting bit, when she was let loose to see her paces in trot, canter and gallop. Unfortunately, Hamra didn’t find this particularly exciting and Bond had to do quite a bit of chasing to get her moving! A very red-faced, breathless Bond caught her when asked and went back and stood in front of the panel. One lady told the audience the evaluators and vets opinion about the horse and then they gave out the “premium”. An elite is average scores of 9+ out of 10, a first is 8+ out of 10, second is 7+ and so on. Only a handful of horses get an elite premium. It’s also important to bear in mind that these youngsters are being evaluated for potential top class international competition. Hamra was awarded a second premium with average score of 7.82. We were really pleased with this. Bond was a little disappointed about the comments about her “lack of impulsion” etc. but when he saw the photos he completely understood what they meant. We’re convinced that this huge filly will improve as she matures, so we’ll take her back next year to see if they think she has.

And finally, Charlotte was in the spotlight. She loves showing off, so really showed herself well when let loose. However, equally she’s easy to bring back down to earth and so stood nice and calmly for everyone to get a good look at her. She was awarded a first premium with an average score of 8.75. She scored 9’s for her paces in trot, canter and gallop and also type and temperament. I was over the moon. Overall, Charlotte was joint 4^th out of 60 horses assessed for show-jumping, dressage, eventing and endurance at Richmond. We are both so proud of the pair of them, especially Charlotte since she’s home-bred.

So, would I go again? Yes, definitely. If you’ve got a potential endurance horse or breed horses with the potential to do endurance then this event is a must. To have so many independent, professional opinions of your horse for £50 is serious value for money. How many judges at shows really give you good feedback about your horse? I’ve found it’s like getting blood out of a stone. Everyone thinks their youngster is perfection in motion but I had critically looked at both our fillies before going and was pleasantly surprised with what others thought of them. In the past year the entries have increased from approximately 500 to over 900 nationwide. So why not give it a go next year? If there isn’t a venue near you which is holding an endurance evaluation, then campaign for it. Make sure you’ve got enough support locally and e-mail Jan Rogers. You never know you might have a future endurance star in the making lurking in your fields!