Everything Horse magazine Magazine, October 2014

the Southview BEF Futurity. All Doo’s youngsters were entered into the eventing section at Southview. Heading their marks was the colt foal, Chevalian Fifa who scored a higher first premium of 8.86. In attaining this mark, Fifa was the highest scoring eventer on the first day of evaluations Image above: Rhiannan Lomas Illustrious B 1 Credit Kevin Sparrow at Southview. Doo Rhiannan has bred. She said, “I am said, “I was very pleased with Fifa’s really pleased with him. This is the score. He was the youngest foal we first time I have set out to breed a took to the Futurity”. Chevalian Fifa showjumper and the first time we have is by the stallion, Royaldik. Chevalian been to the Futurity”. Fifa’s dam is a mare called Woodbine French Royale. She was bred by former Rhiannan bred Illustrious B from her European Breeder of the Year, Charles mare, Goldhart Gina Z. Rhiannon Edwards. Doo plans to take Chevalian continued, “Goldhart Gina Z was bred Fifa to the Futurity eventing finals at by Brian Tomkinson who has been Osberton in October. breeding Hanoverians for over 20 years. He brought a grandson of Gina’s Doo added, “A granddaughter of to the Futurity that did well, which was Woodbine French Royale, Chevalian great to see”. The grandson was colt Regal Lady did very well at the Futurity foal, Benedict, who scored a higher last year”. This year, Chevalian Regal first premium in the dressage section. Lady scored a Futurity higher first Illustrious B is by local stallion, Danny Kannan. Rhiannon added, “I really liked Danny Kannan as he is well put together and has a lovely temperament. The fact that he had attained good Futurity scores as a youngster drew my attention to him. It was also important to me that he is British bred. His conformation complemented that of my mare”. premium of 8.54. Also attaining higher first premiums at the Futurity for Doo was the yearling, Chevalian Special Lady (8.64) and the foal, Chevalian Unique (8.58). Doo breeds horses for her daughter Rosie who has trained with Olympic gold medallist, Michael Jung to compete in eventing. Rhiannan said, “Illustrious B is for sale, had he been a filly I may have kept him. I would like to breed a couple of horses a year”. This is the second time Ruth Mealey from Northwich, Cheshire has taken her two year old, Sugar House First Edition to the Futurity and the second time she has achieved a higher first Doo Rickett from Ellesmere, Shropshire premium. Ruth owns both Sugar House gained four higher first premiums with First Edition’s parents. She is by Ruth’s foals and yearlings she has bred at stallion, Franklyn Sugar, out of the mare, Bonita van Image below: Doo Rickett’s Chevalian Fifa Credit Kevin Sparrow de Roshoeve. Ruth said, “Sugar House First Edition’s dam is a lovely mare. She has showjumped at newcomers and foxhunter level and her jumping lines mixed with Franklyn Sugar’s breeding is the ideal mix”. Sugar House First 18 Edition will stay with Ruth, who added, “She is the first foal from either of her parents so I plan to keep her. Normally I breed two foals a year and keep the colts and sell the fillies, but Sugar House First Edition is quite special to me”. Ruth’s stallion, Franklyn Sugar also this year has a filly foal, Hillgrounds Fravola that attained an elite Futurity premium having been sold to Olympic gold medallist, Carl Hester’s yard. Ruth continued, “Katie Bailey that works for Carl bought the foal from her breeder, Clare Skinner. They liked Hillgrounds Fravola that much they have put her dam, Cilla Vola back in foal to Franklyn Sugar for 2015”. The Futurity is a continually evolving process, 2013 saw the introduction of the Futurity equine bridge which is now being run as an extension of the Futurity evaluations. The Futurity equine bridge provides top Futurity graduates with the direction and support they will need as 4 year olds so that they begin their early years under saddle in a way that allows for sustained physical and mental development. In order to be eligible for the Futurity Equine Bridge all horses must obtain a Futurity score of 8.5 or above in their three year old year. Head of Equine Development at the BEF, Jan Rogers said, “The Futurity is now in its ninth year and over this time we have seen it develop to provide real support to British breeders to help achieve their aims. Through their carefully planned breeding decisions, year on year we are seeing an improvement in the horses presented at the Futurity for evaluation”. With entries limited to 60 at each evaluation venue, places are keenly sought after. Entries are categorised by discipline with age groups for foals, yearlings, two and three year olds and each horse is evaluated in hand and loose in a safe indoor environment as well as undergoing a vet’s assessment. The BEF Futurity Evaluations are held at 11 venues over 14 days throughout the UK and young horses go home with a BEF Premium (grade), a stylish rosette and a detailed, informative score sheet. An attractive certificate to keep and frame follows on after the event. All results are published on the fully searchable British Breeding website. www.britishbreeding.org. Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 13 • October 2014

Everything Horse magazine Magazine, October 2014 | Page 18