BOLTON horse owner Joshua Williamson looks to be on a winner after his three-year-old filly Pebbles was tipped for the top.

Pebbles was the best performing showjumper at a "futurity" event hosted by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) at Myerscough College, near Preston.

The event was part of the BEF Futurity Evaluation series, which aims to identify British-bred young potential sport horses and ponies destined for careers in dressage, eventing, showjumping or endurance.

Williamson's filly, which was bred by Stephanie Holker, gained a higher first premium of 8.83 in the jumping section.

This was the highest score awarded to a three-year-old at Myerscough and indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at national level, possibly even going on to perform at the World Championships or become an Olympic champion.

Joshua said: "The futurity has helped consolidate our view that Pebbles is a really lovely horse.

"She both jumps very well and moves brilliantly.

"We will aim Pebbles at young horse classes in both dressage and jumping and see which she excels at before making any decisions.

"Ultimately, I think she would make a great eventer."

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

As part of the futurity, each horse or pony undergoes a vet's assessment and is then evaluated in hand and loose in an indoor school.

Three-year-olds entered into either the showjumping or eventing sections are also required to loose jump.

The 2017 Futurity evaluations ran nationwide from August 14-30.

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.

For more information, visit www.britishbreeding.org.