A ROSS-on-Wye horse breeder is making great strides in her field after gaining an elite premium at the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity at Hartpury College.

The yearling colt foal, Cash Legend, owned and bred by Issy King, attained an elite premium of 9.10 in the showjumping section.

The horse was the top scoring potential showjumping yearling nationally in the Futurity in 2015, with an elite premium indicating that he 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.

It may even find the stars of the future who will go on to compete at World Championships or become Olympic Champions.

Cash Legend is just one of two potential showjumping yearlings nationwide to attain an elite premium in the 2015 Futurity.

“I am over the moon with him," said King.

"I am planning to keep him entire and grade him as a stallion.

"All being well, Cash Legend will have a competition career and then go on to stand as a stallion.

"I have owned Cash Legend’s dam, Bolgoed Lady Legend for 10 years.

"She competed nationally to 1m.15 classes, but had a bad accident in a trailer as a youngster before I had her.

"We always have terrible problems travelling her because of this so she never realised her full potential in the ring.

"She regularly jumped 1m.40 at home and I hope to breed a few more foals from her in time.

"The Futurity was a great experience for Cash Legend, he is a lovely horse with the most wonderful temperament."

The BEF’s Head of Equine Development Jan Rogers said that the Futurity celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

We are increasingly finding 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," he said.

"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”.