SUPPORTERS OF BRITISH BREEDING Fundraising Arm of T British Horse Foundation Registered Charity Number 1003290

Distinguished Line-Up For Young Horse Evaluation Judges

The British Equestrian Federation's Breeding Programme took a significant step forward this week when the arrangements for the first-ever judges' seminar for the South Essex Insurance Brokers /British Equestrian Federation Young Horse Evaluation Series were announced.

To be held at Unicorn Centre, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire on the evening of 22 January and morning of 23 January, the seminar will be conducted by two of the very top names in the field of young sport horse evaluation - Prof Ingvar Fredricson and Jan Olof Wannius. From Sweden they have both played key roles in developing the concept of these kind of evaluations which have much more fundamental aims than being innovatory young horse classes. They also act as stallion and mare performance tests and as progeny tests thus building up the data needed to establish genetic indices.

Prof Fredricson, a professor of veterinary medicine and former director of the Flyinge Stud in Sweden was key figure in the development of the Swedish Quality Tests upon which these British Evaluation tests are based. He is also a long-time member of the Board of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses. Jan Olof Wanius, a lawyer by profession, is an Olympic show jumping rider, Swedish National Coach and long-time judge of young horse competitions.

" This is a unique opportunity for those involved in the British evaluations to learn from the very best" said a happy Jane Kidd, who is organising the seminar on behalf of the British Horse Foundation and Supporters of British Breeding who are running the Evaluations for the BEF. "In Sweden" she added, "there is a very high correlation between the results of their Quality tests and later competitions and we need the very best people to train as judges in order for the evaluations to work successfully here. We have invited over 50 of the most highly qualified breeders, producers, trainers and riders to attend and many of them have already told us that they are delighted to accept and are really looking forward to this exciting occasion as a way of making a contribution to improving our breeding system."

Nicolina MacKenzie of Young Horse Evaluation series sponsor South Essex Insurance Brokers sees the judge's seminar as one of the most important aspects of the whole programme. "It is a great coup to have two of the best judges of young horses in the world talking to people who will be carrying out the British evaluations. SEIB sees it as essential that there is a uniformity in the standards - and that those standards are suitably high enough."

A limited number of tickets are available to the public at £35 for one session and £50 for the complete seminar. For further details please contact Jane Kidd on 01451 844748.

Details about the schedules/venues of the Evaluation Tests are available from Helen Hulse, Centre-lines, Potter Hill, Collingham, Newark, Notts NG23 7PZ.