Exciting Plans for the Baileys British Breeding Futurity 2021

British Breeding has announced that the Baileys Horse Feeds British Breeding Futurity series for 2021 will offer both virtual and physical evaluations for British bred young horses and ponies in 2021, as well as a range of supporting activities for breeders.

The Futurity series offers independent evaluations of British bred horses and ponies aged from foals to 5-year-olds in the disciplines of show jumping, eventing, dressage and endurance. Entries are assessed by a highly experienced international panel of evaluators and receive a veterinary and nutrition assessment with one of the expert team of vets and a Baileys Horse Feeds nutritionist. British Breeding has developed a world leading linear scoring system that gives breeders detailed feedback, allowing them to make informed breeding decisions going forward.

The Baileys British Breeding Futurity series will again offer a cash prize to the top breeder in each category. A small percentage of each entry will go towards this prize fund and awards will be presented at the end of the season.

The ideal first step in a young horse's career, the Futurity series offers opportunities to qualify for further activities. Those achieving a score of 8 or above will be eligible for selection for the Futurity Auction for foals to 3-year-olds to be held in September.

For 3-5-year-olds, there is the opportunity to qualify for the Equine Bridge, a two-day performance test event for 4-6-year-olds to be held in October.

Physical Futurity evaluations are set to return with the loosening of lockdown restrictions, with four dates on offer at popular venues:

23 August 2021 - Richmond Equestrian Centre, Richmond, Richmond DL10 7PL

24 August 2021 - Home Farm, Hothorpe, Teddingworth LE17 6QX

25 August 2021 - Writtle College, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3SD

26 August 2021 - Glebe Farm, Whitestone, Exeter EX4 2HP

Entries will be restricted in numbers, so breeders are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. Physical evaluations cost £90 per entry, with a discount for British Breeding Members Club members. Videos and photographs will also be taken at the physical events of youngsters aimed at the Futurity Auction.

Following their success in 2020, the virtual evaluations will continue. Initially conceived as a pragmatic solution to the COVID-19 challenge, British Breeding has recognised that virtual evaluations offer significant possibilities and advantages, making evaluations accessible for breeders in remote locations, and reducing the need to travel foals and youngstock if there is no physical venue nearby.

British Breeding Director, Dr Eva Maria Broomer explains, "We learned that video footage can be a very interesting and valuable tool for evaluations, as assessors can slow footage down, pause it, zoom in, and replay it. Using videos and zoom conferencing has enabled us to continue to offer one of the great benefits of the Futurity, which is to have British bred young stock evaluated by a panel of senior and highly experienced and respected international evaluators".

For those with 3-year old eventers and show jumpers, there is no option for virtual loose jumping evaluations of using videos taken at home for safety reasons. However, the organisation is working with several appropriate, well equipped indoor venues around the country where breeders can take youngsters for a safe, supervised loose jumping video session. Venues include Brendon Stud in Sussex, Catherston Stud in Hampshire, Heritage Coast Stud in Suffolk and Ladykirk Equitation and Stud in Scotland. A full list of participating venues is available on www.british-breeding.com.

Judging of the virtual evaluations will run for four weeks from 19 July until 15 August and entry will cost £66 with discounts for members.

Futurity entries are now open online at www.british-breeding.com, or call 01903 891637 for further information.