HORSE breeder, Sharon Dudden, from Trevosper, near Launceston, has gained an elite premium with her young horse at the ‘Baileys Horse Feeds/ British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity’ held on August 21, at Tall Trees Arena near Camelford.

The filly foal, ‘Wellpark Zephyra’, bred and owned by Sharon, took home an elite premium of 9.00 in the eventing section, giving her the highest score of the day at Tall Trees and the only horse to score an elite premium — an elite premium indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at international 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.

The series may even find a star of the future, who could go on to compete at world championships or become an Olympic champion.

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

Sharon bred the chestnut filly from her mare ‘Generous DS’.

Sharon said: “We are delighted with Zephyra I thought she had the edge that would earn her an elite premium and it is a compliment to us to know that we are breeding along the right lines.”

Zephyra is the second foal bred from Generous, her first attained a first premium at the Futurity. Zephyra is by the stallion, ‘Hallmark DS’.

Sharon’s daughter, Georgina Dudden, rides the horses bred by her mother.

Sharon added: “Georgina is really looking forward to competing the horses we are breeding.”

The eldest horse that Sharon has bred, seven-year-old ‘Wellpark Minnie Me’, has also begun her eventing career.

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”.