Earlier this year, British Breeding announced a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the special contribution of British native breeds to the equestrian community by offering a specially tailored Futurity programme designed to evaluate the diverse community of native breeds for their potential as riding horse and ponies for leisure owners and amateurs. Importantly, the British Breeding definition of native was those registered in a DEFRA approved studbook which meant that Eriskays could enter this 2025 pilot.
The aim of the programme was to highlight the ridden attributes and contribution native breeds make to British equestrianism across a wide range of purposes and the entries were to be graded by using a linear scoring system which would create a detailed profile of conformation and movement. The evaluation and interpretation of these attributes would differ from sports horses and ponies because of the native’s unique characteristics, own phenotypes and movement patterns.
The programme offered a range of venues that ponies could be taken to but also a virtual evaluation which required several lengthy videos to be submitted following very stringent and clear guidelines.
The Futurity was an evaluation, rather than a sport horse show class, therefore the pony was to be marked using a set of criteria appropriate for that pony’s age and intended discipline. At the evaluation the pony was considered for longer than at a show and the feedback the owner would receive would be more thorough.
Because this was to be an evaluation for performance potential, owners were cautioned against presenting ponies in “show” condition as this may have meant that they were carrying too much weight, especially for their age. Ponies carrying excess weight cannot move as well as those with the correct condition score, and can have related problems in later life, so owners were asked to make sure their pony was the appropriate weight when presented for evaluation.
Eriskay Pony Society members took up the challenge and Gillian Clark took her yearling filly, Kerchesters Pebble, to the Futurity event on Teesside where she was awarded silver (& scored very close to gold). Gillian said ‘’Pebble was immaculately behaved for the vet checks, walk & trot…. then came canter, Pebble thought it would be more fun to hop the pole markers and go see the judges! However, we did manage canter, although a little off piste. She was amazingly well behaved considering all the hanging around and travelling’’.
THE ERISKAY PONY SOCIETY 