Beltane Queen and Nicola Wilson at 2015 Festival of British Eventing
While mare grading is the routine for Europe breeders the practice is not quite so usual in the UK, something which the Sport Horse Breeding (GB) would like to change
In order to to encourage more mares graded into the studbook the first of the mare gradings was held at the Bramham Horse Trials in Yorkshire on June 9th where Nicola Wilson’s former 4* ride Beltane Queen gained the highest mark of the day
Val and Ann Robson’s mare finished her competitive career on a high in 2015 with a top 20 finish at Badminton and winning the National Championship title at Gatcombe Park.
The striking 12 year old mare is a daughter of the SHB(GB) premium thoroughbred stallion Queen’s Soldier and was one of four mares graded into the Head Studbook at the first grading of the year held at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse trials.
She is currently in foal to the SHB(GB) graded Badminton winner Chilli Morning, which should certainly produce something worth keeping an eye on in the future!
The next SHB(GB) mare gradings of 2016 will be held at;
West Kington Stud, Wiltshire June 22
Langaller Farm Stud, Devon June 25
Twemlows Stud, Shropshire July 7
