As part of the World Class Breeding programme, the British Equestrian Federation has instigated an annual series of assessments for young sports horses, sponsored by Bailey’s Horse Feeds.  Originally, the concept was that potential sports horses joined the scheme as foals, and paid an annual fee to be assessed (or ‘graded’) each year until they were 6 years old.  This proved to be unrealistic, and now young sports horses can be presented at any age from foal to 3 year olds, and as many years as you care to enter.

At present, owners are required to nominate one of the Olympic disciplines (Dressage, Show Jumping or Eventing) or Sports Pony (ie to mature 14.2hh or under), and the horse is assessed against a blue print for the ‘perfect’ potential dressage, show jumping or eventing ‘star’.  For an additional fee, you can nominate a horse for two disciplines (eg dressage and eventing), and the assessors also have the option of transferring the horse to another discipline, if they think it more suited (could be a shock if you think you have bred a dressage horse and the assessors find it better suited to show jumping!).  It must be remembered that they are looking for a sports horse, not a show horse, and flashy, toe-flicking action is frowned upon.

Initially, the horse is assessed by a vet, who checks confirmation and action, and then the horse is taken into a school in front of 3 sports horse specialists.  It is shown in hand (on a triangle) in walk and trot, and then turned loose so that canter can be seen (you are advised to take a bucket of food to help with catching them again!).  3 year old show jumpers and eventers are also sent down a jumping lane – a potential eventer that does not jump is not a lot of use!

The assessors are looking not only at confirmation, type and paces, but also for attitude and ‘trainability’.

I first came across this programme 3 years ago.  I had a really smart 3 year old PBA, and would have loved to have had her assessed by experts.  She had done very well showing in hand, but I never quite trust showing judges . . . but at that time, if you wanted to join the scheme, you had to pay the entry fees for the years you had missed, as well as the one you were eligible for. 

This year, my mare was due to foal at the beginning of June, so I looked the scheme up on the internet, and not only had it changed to the current formula, there was an assessment being held less than half an hours drive from the yard!  The dates were a bit tight – the foal was due around 12/06 and the assessment was on 29/07, but Jan Rogers of BEF (who organises the whole thing) assured me that 6 weeks was absolutely fine.  I bit my fingernails and waited.

The mare in question is Pharach Samantha, by Nizzolan out of Nimrodel, and the stallion I used was Risebridge Diesel, the only pure Australian Stock Horse standing in the UK.  Sam is registered Part Bred Arab (50%) and has AHS Premium status.  She has competed to 160km ER (win and place), and in her last competitive season won several best condition awards.  Since then she has been shown under saddle, placing at county level, tried some dressage (REALLY not interested – too many transitions for her taste!) and even tried barrel racing once, which she won.

Diesel mostly plays polocross – his owner Jason Webb’s particular perversion – and could do a really nice dressage test, if you could get Jason to wear breeches and a jacket!

The foal was born on 8th June, at 1.05am, a fine filly, and she has been registered with the AHS as Sheer Bliss.  She really is a nice foal, with the most gorgeous temperament and correct paces.  She was promptly entered in the Futurity – after all, she would be a good 7 weeks old – and we started teaching her the basics of leading and having her feet handled (a requirement for the vet assessments).

About 10 days before the assessment, we were issued with our times, and a copy of the catalogue of entries was available on-line.  The catalogue was a bit difficult to follow, until you got the hang of it, but is was interesting to see what the other entries were, and how they were bred.  Finn Guiness had a three year old entered, but I do not know how they got on.  It is possible to add ‘for sale’ to your entry, if that is your intention, but at the moment nothing would part me from Bliss.

The day of the assessment dawned, and we set off early (having allowed extra time for Sam to decide not to load).  At Plumpton things were a little chaotic – they really could have done with a parking steward – and we ended up right next to the vet assessment area.  That was interesting, as it gave us a really good view of how everyone else was doing.  We were the last but one foal to go forward, so had the benefit of watching and learning.

Spectators are welcome, it is not a closed grading, and it is well worth going along.  Once we had finished, we popped the horses back on the trailer and went to watch some of the older entries strutting their stuff.  It was an education, comparing what we thought of the animal and what the assessors thought – some we got right, some not.

Sam and Bliss waited patiently for their turn, and trotted up and down like old pro’s.  The vet took his time, and it was interesting to be able to discuss Bliss’ slight imperfections and what could be done to improve them, and what the implications were for possible future soundness.  You have to bear in mind that, at only 7 weeks, Bliss was going to grow out of some of them – one correction that was mentioned, involving trimming the front feet, had disappeared totally by the time the farrier got to look at her!

Into the school, and Bliss stood like an angel while the 3 assessors circled her.  It was suggested that she might be better presented as a Sports Pony, but seeing as she is expected to make 15.2hh it was decided to leave her in the section she was in (eventing).   We were then asked to walk off round the triangle and Bliss walked along side Sam as though she had done it dozens of times.  We were instructed to let Bliss go, and start trotting Sam.  Bliss trotted happily beside her.  The assessors wanted to see canter, but Bliss was quite happy trotting, so in the end we had to catch her and hold her at one end of the school whilst Sam was taken down the far end.  Bliss watched her go without a qualm, but did actually canter to join her mum when we let go!

Once the assessors had seen everything, we had to stand in the middle of the school to hear the verdict.  The actual score (7.72) was announced (the gallery held an interested audience) and they also told everyone what it was they especially liked or disliked.  We were thrilled, having attained a Second Premium, and when all the results were published I was pleased to find that Bliss had come exactly halfway, both in the eventing section, and in the overall results.  Not bad for an endurance horse!  Bearing in mind that all the others appeared to be pure or part warmblood, I still cannot believe that my little PBA did so well.

Because now we get to the interesting bit.  Jo Claridge of EGB and Jan Rogers of BEF have been in discussions, and it looks like Endurance will be added to the mix for next year.  Currently, the criteria for endurance horses are under discussion, but it is hoped that a section for them will be added at 4 venues in 2009.  I wonder how the pure bred Arabs will make out.