New 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.

Bespoke system

Following two years’ research looking at grading on the continent, Futurity has built its own bespoke system. The Futurity linear scoring system takes individual components of the horse into consideration, with marks given for eachone.

The evaluator will key their scores into a hand held device, to give an overall score – similar to judging in dressage. This information will be emailed to participants as feedback, on the same day.

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

Mare gradings

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 youngstock event at Hartpury College on 9 August.

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.