BEF to launch young horse series to find the best of Britain’s home-bred talent
The British Equestrian Federation has announced a new initiative aimed at improving the quality of sport horses in this country, as well as identifying horses with the potential to provide British riders with the chance to win medals.
The South Essex Insurance Brokers BEF Young Horse Evaluation Series will involve assessments for four-year-olds, registered with a recognised British breed society, at six qualifying shows around the country during spring 2002.
The series, which is aimed at finding horses for all disciplines, intends to identify the best British young horses, and their bloodlines.
The first of six qualifying evaluation days will be held at The College EC, Beds, on 23 February, with the remaining qualifiers in March and April at Heart of England EC, Staffs, Osbaldeston, Lancs, Towerlands EC, Essex, Rowallan Activity Centre, Ayrshire and West Wilts EC. A high-profile final will take place later in the year.
The series is the first step of the new BEF Breeding Programme Operational Plan, developed by a working party from the British Horse Foundation (BHF) and the Supporters of British Breeding and chaired by BHF chairman Richard Meade.
Richard Meade hopes the series will find horses to take “elite riders to the top in international and Olympic competition” as well as horses “capable of taking emerging riders into the elite category.”
The new breeding plan has been designed to achieve a long-term improvement in British breeding at all levels.
Rules and entry forms for the Young Horse Evaluation Series will be available from Helen Hulse (tel: 01636 892519) from early November.
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