New linear scoring system for BEF Futurity

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/BEF Futurity is to introduce a new linear scoring system, along with a number of other changes to the 2015 series.

Two year’s research

Following two years’ research looking at scoring on the continent, Futurity has built its own bespoke system. The Futurity linear scoring system enables the evaluators to give more objective, individual scores to a range of components, which make up the Futurity assessment.

Evaluators will key their scores into hand held devices, which will then email feedback to participants, on the same day. This information will be centrally stored to build up a more complete picture of which young stock go on to achieve success as competition horses.

Mare gradings

The Futurity team is also looking to include people who have competed internationally on the panel of evaluators.

In addition to changes to the scoring system, Futurity has teamed up with Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain SHB(GB) and the newly formed British Breeders Network (BBN).

SHB(GB) will offer mare gradings at 11 of the Futurity events, while the BBN is running a high profile youngstock event at Hartpury College on 9 August to coincide with the Futurity evaluation.

Positive change

“This year will be a year of positive change for the Futurity,” said BEF Coordinator Jan Rogers. “The changes in combinations, greater consistency in evaluators across the 12 venues, renewed emphasis on competition experience and the linear scoring detail should make for an improved participant experience with much more information at their fingertips. This is what owners have told us they want to see”.

The 2015 Futurity evaluations will run from the 1-18 August, covering 11 venues nationwide. Entries are taken online and will open on 1July.