FOUR Marks woman Sarah Oppenheimer, of the Headmore Stud, has taken the top score the 2016 Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity.

Sarah’s dressage filly foal, Headmore Valentina, took an elite premium of 9.70 at the Catherston Stud Futurity. This is the joint third highest all-time futurity score.

An elite futurity premium indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at international and Olympic level.

Sarah said: “I am delighted, we thought she was a bit special. I am chuffed to bits that she has received this futurity score as we think she is outstanding. Valentina’s dam, Rubinsteena, has previously produced two national champions and two runners up.”

Rubinsteena is the dam of Half Moon Frizzante, National Dressage Winter Open elementary champion in 2011, and former National Dressage six-year-old champion Headmore Wimoweh.

“Wimoweh and another daughter of Rubinsteena’s, Headmore Davina, have both qualified for the 2016 National Dressage Championships,” Sarah added.

Valentina was born via embryo transfer as Rubinsteena was unwell last summer. She is back in foal to Belissimo M for 2017.

Sarah will retain Valentina. She continued: “She will go on to have a ridden career. We are increasingly using embryo transfer so the mares can continue their ridden careers.

“We have had lots of interest in Valentina, but she will be staying with us.”

The first ever Futurity Overall Supreme Champion back in 2005 was bred by Sarah. She was Headmore Dream On, by Keystone Dimaggio. Headmore Dream On has gone on to compete at young riders and international level.

The futurity is a continually evolving process. The year 2013 saw the introduction of the futurity equine bridge which is now being run as an extension of the futurity evaluations. The futurity equine bridge provides top graduates with the direction and support they will need as four year olds so that they begin their early years under saddle in a way that allows for sustained physical and mental development.

In order to be eligible for the futurity equine bridge, all horses must obtain a futurity score of 8.5 or above and a high enough vet score in their three-year-old year.

Jan Rogers, the BEF’s head of equine development, said: “We are increasingly noticing that breeders, buyers and riders of British bred horses are finding that a futurity premium is a 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.