The Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme is launched

The Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme is launched

An exciting new scheme, the Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme, has been launched to recognise the performance of Endurance Futurity Graduates.

The Scheme has been the inspiration of Endurance GB (EGB) and sets out to recognise the performance of endurance horses that are realising the potential identified at the Baileys Horse Feeds/BEF Futurity Evaluations. The Scheme was devised by Jo and Peter Claridge and Rosemary Attfield.

To be eligible for the Baileys Horse Feeds/BEF Futurity evaluations, horses or ponies must be British bred. The Futurity evaluations are open to horses and ponies aged from foals to three-year-olds, bred for one of the main disciplines; Endurance, Eventing, Showjumping or Dressage.

Rosettes, sponsored by Phoenix Fields Arabians, will be awarded to all Futurity graduates registered with Endurance GB that successfully achieve their first Novice, Open, Advanced and International (FEI) level at Endurance GB rides. This includes all Futurity graduates since 2009 when endurance first became part of the BEF Futurity evaluations, and annually into the future. The Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme aims to recognise and encourage the breeding and early assessment of high performance British bred endurance horses, and their subsequent development by responsible owners and trainers to attain their highest potential.

Futurity Endurance evaluator Jo Claridge said: “The Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme is designed to reward and recognise those horses that have been assessed as youngsters and have gone on to prove that they are capable of performing at all levels in endurance.”

Three annual trophies are planned, sponsored by Rosemary Attfield’s Hornshill Farm, to the highest performing Futurity graduates competing in endurance at different levels and ages. These trophies will be awarded according to strict criteria in order to encourage careful and responsible development and protect horse welfare.

The resulting database of British bred endurance horses evaluated at the Baileys Horse Feeds/BEF Futurity Evaluations and subsequently performing in Endurance GB events will be invaluable in guiding and tracking the breeding and development of performance horses for future endurance competition at all levels.

For more information on the Endurance Futurity Graduate Scheme visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.  For more information on the British Breeding/BEF/Baileys Horse Feeds Futurity, visit www.britishbreeding.org.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.