A YOUNG horse owned by a Haltwhistle breeder is being tipped for the top.

Sue Simmons gained a higher first premium with her filly foal Annabelle of Westoak at the Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity held at Richmond Equestrian Centre

Annabelle, owned by Sue but bred at Lamley House Stud in Nottingham, took home a higher first premium of 8.85 in the jumping section. This was the highest score awarded to a foal at Richmond.

A higher first premium indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at national level.

The BEF Futurity Evaluation series aims to identify British-bred young potential sport horses and ponies destined for careers in dressage, eventing, showjumping or endurance.

It may even find the stars of the future who will go on to compete at World Championships or even become Olympic champions.

Sue said: “Annabelle is a very smart filly and in addition to this great futurity result, she was brilliant at the regional Hanoverian Show and qualified for the British Hanoverian Annual Show at Hartpury in Gloucestershire.”

Annabelle is out of Sue’s mare, Welegance, and by the stallion, Adagio II. She said: “The futurity is a really useful tool and helps as part of the package when I sell the young horses.

“The vet report along with the score and wonderful photos that futurity photographer, Kevin Sparrow, takes provide a really good record of the foal.” Annabelle was recently sold to Molly Shields who came to Richmond to present her at the futurity.

The BEF’s head of equine development, Jan Rogers, said: “We are increasingly noticing that breeders, buyers and riders of British-bred horses are finding that a futurity premium is a very useful aid in helping assess these horses. We are also seeing a marked improvement in the standard of youngsters entered in the futurity, which is very good news for the future of British breeding.”

Futurity scores are used by many breeders as a credible marketing tool for their young horses, adding value to a young horse while it is still too young to have achieved a performance record.

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk