Breeding Under Scrutiny At HOYS

SEIB and BEF act to improve Olympic prospects

The British Equestrian Federation, supported by South Essex Insurance Brokers, has taken the first steps on a programme designed to improve British sport horses - and to win Olympic medals.

The SEIB/BEF Young Horse Evaluation series drew sport horse enthusiasts to the Horse of the Year Show at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, for the culmination of a season-long, nationwide search for future winners in all three disciplines - eventing, showjumping and dressage.

And after expert assessment covering conformation, performance and temperament, the Brendon Stud's stallion, Caretino Glory, emerged as not only the highest-marked showjumping horse but also the best over all three disciplines.

Leading event horse was No Illusion, a gelding owned and bred by John Poole at Alvechurch, Worcestershire, and the best dressage prospect was the stallion Donnerromeo Altamar, owned by Mr and Mrs Rietveld from Stow-on-the Wold, Gloucestershire.

South Essex Insurance Brokers was overall sponsor and also supported the event horse section, while New Priory Stud, Chippenham, backed the showjumping section and Genus Equine the dressage.

One of the additional objectives of this project is the identification of bloodlines producing outstanding competition horses. "This is obviously a long-term benefit, but even from this year we have learned something," said breeding consultants Celia Clarke, one of the organisers. "We are very interested, for instance, in No Illusion's sire, No Complaints, who has so far only been relatively lightly used."

Nicolina MacKenzie, sales and marketing manager for South Essex Insurance Brokers, commented: "We are very pleased to have been involved in such an important project. While the identification of future Olympic horses is very important, we are particularly interested in the further long-term objectives which will help to improve the quality of even leisure horses."

Results

New Priory Stud Showjumping.- 1 and overall, Mr and Mrs C Light's stallion Caretino Glory - Cheenook (Holst)/Glorieux (Old) by Glorieux (Old); 2, Mr M Lawton's stallion Mersley Mon Capatain - Calando I (Holst)/Faire Lady (Holst) by Capitol (Holst); 3, Heer G Huf's mare Crystal Blue Z - Calido (Holst)/Luktuttu SZ (CH) by Lux Z (Hann).

Genus Equine Dressage.- 1, Mr and Mrs Rietveld's stallion Donnerromeo Altamar - Donnerhall (Old)/Jodaza (KWPN) by Elmshorn (KWPN); 2, Mrs A G Loriston-Clarke's mare Catherston Dream Machine - Dutch Dream (BWBS)/Catherston Jetstream (BWBS) by Jshin (KWPN); 3, Mr and Mrs C Light's stallion Caretino Glory - Cheenook (Holst)/Glorieux (Old) by Glorieux (Old).

South Essex Insurance Brokers Eventing.- 1, Mr J Poole's gelding No Illusion - No Complaints (AES)/Furistik (Old) by Ramino (Westf); 2, Mr V Jones mare Treswigga - Welton Crackerjack (NTR)/Tater Dhu (TB) by Karlinsky (TB USA); 3, Mr and Mrs C Light's stallion Caretino Glory - Cheenook (Holst)/Glorieux (Old) by Glorieux (Old)