Jumpers on course at the 2017 Futurity

Thursday 19 October 2017

Jumpers on course at the 2017 Futurity

Just one youngster was awarded a prestigious elite premium at the 2017 Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity. The popular futurity series for foals to three-year-olds bred in the UK for competition in eventing, dressage, showjumping and endurance ran from the 14th to the 30th August at nine venues across the country.

An elite premium indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at international level and a higher first premium indicates that there is potential for national level competition. A total of 49 youngsters came forward in the showjumping section this year. A total of 49% of horses that were evaluated achieved higher first premiums.

The 2017 Futurity saw strong entries across the four disciplines with the first increase in the number of horses entered for each day of evaluations since the effect of the recession on breeding was felt in 2011.

The sole elite premium awarded in the 2017 Futurity jumping section went to colt foal, Escape The Opposition (Escape Z x Fleetwater Opposition).  Bred and owned by Jancis Weal, Escape The Opposition earned an elite premium of 9.00.  Jancis who works as a teacher said: “The evaluators commented in particular on his canter and good top-line. I bred Escape The Opposition to replace his dam, Blue Moon Opposition – she and I competed to intermediate level eventing. We took a bit of a chance on using a four-year-old stallion, Escape Z, and I am delighted that we did. I have had several Opposition horses to event over the years and they all have great characters.” Jancis is considering breeding another foal from Blue Moon Opposition in 2019.

Zara Thain’s filly foal, Diaruba (Diarado x Acodetto) took a higher first premium of 8.95 for the second best score in the showjumping section. The Thain family have owned Diaruba’s dam, Almetto since she was five and she show jumped internationally as a young horse. Zara said: “One of the highlights with Almetto was jumping her on the Spanish showjumping tour. She has now produced three lovely foals, two of which we have kept.” The other foal from Almetto that Zara has kept is now a two-year-old, Altinkum – he also scored a futurity premium of 8.95 as a foal. Zara continued: “We plan to show jump Diaruba internationally starting with young horse classes and working our way up. I think the futurity is a great way to get the young horses out and to get a professional honest opinion on them. We are looking forward to bringing Altinkum back next year as a three-year-old.

Heading the three-year-olds in the Futurity jumping section this year was Lisa Maynard and Chris Jackson’s colt, Balou for Pleasure (Balou du Rouet x Broadstone Landmark) with a higher first premium of 8.92.  Balou For Pleasure has attended the Futurity for each of the four years he has been eligible to do so and now has a total of two elite and two higher first premiums. Lisa said; “It is so exciting to have Balou for Pleasure, he was bred to jump and the futurity has really given us something to focus on each year. We have worked hard and put the effort in to make sure that Balou for Pleasure was well presented at the Futurity. He also recently won at the British Breeders Network championship show.”

Balou for Pleasure is now being produced by Martin Schleicher and Niall Ferguson of Springfern Sport Horses. Lisa continued: “Niall and Martin are passionate about the horses and their experience and ability with young horses is second to none. Balou for Pleasure will stand at stud and also be produced in the Burghley Young Event Horse classes and the age classes for jumping.” Balou for Pleasure’s dam, Lordships La Rochelle is now in foal to Big Star for 2018.

Karen Robinson’s colt, Idento (Argento x Hornet Rose) was the highest scoring jumping yearling in the 2017 Futurity. Bred by Charlotte Robinson and owned by Karen, Idento scored a higher first premium of 8.65. Karen said: “The Futurity was Idento’s first ever show and we were pleased with his results. We are hoping to show him in the new year and I think the Futurity is a good starting place for young stock to be recognised and begin their careers.”

Tim and Kate Betteridge’s two-year-old gelding, Kinsgton Star (Balou Star x Cruyff) headed his age group in the jumping section with a higher first premium of 8.55. Kingston Star is out of Kate’s mare C Vera Z who has bred both Kingston Star and his full brother, Jorvik Star, who scored two elite futurity premiums in 2014 and 2015. Kate said: “Jorvik Star is now broken and starting his ridden education, before he goes to be produced by Sam Jimmison for the young horses classes next year, and we hope Kingston Star will follow the same path. Coincidentally we bought C Vera Z from Sam 10 years ago! C Vera Z has now had four highly graded results at the futurity and we are thrilled with her progeny. We feel futurity allows the horses to have an educational day out and be evaluated against their own age group and discipline sections in a calm environment, we have enjoyed supporting it and hope to in the future.”

The BEF’s Head of Equine Development Jan Rogers said: “2017 has been a great Futurity year with the number of entries for each venue increasing for the first time since 2011. We have looked carefully at breeders’ responses to the survey at the beginning of the year and as Futurity moves into its new chapter, we are keen that the standards and integrity that Futurity offers are maintained and built upon. We have received expressions of interest from a number of organisations for the running of Futurity and we are looking at the detail of how this happens. We are excited about the possibilities for the future, both for Futurity itself and for the competition successes of Futurity graduates who are up and coming in the performance arena”.

For more information, visit www.britishbreeding.org

 
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