ABOUT US

WHO ARE WE?
Our History    The Society Today    The Council

WHAT DO WE DO? 
The British Sport Horse    World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
Stallions    Mares    Show Hunters

Who Are We?

OUR HISTORY (Back to top)   
 

Between the years of 1873 and 1882 no fewer than 197,002 horses were imported into England, chiefly for the army, at a relative cost today of £250 million. Consequently, the Government at that time was greatly in favour of encouraging the breeding of horses in this country.

This crisis in the British Equestrian Industry coincided with a decision made at a November meeting in 1884 by the Hackney Horses Society’s Council. It was decided to include a class for thoroughbred stallions suitable for use as hunter sires at their annual show and a ‘Committee of Management’ was formed to administer this new venture. This was followed up a year later at another meeting where a proposal led to the formation of a Society for improving the breed of the hunter type horse. The existing Committee of Management responsible for the Thoroughbred Stallion Classes agreed to form the new Society, and the Hunter’s Improvement Society (H.I.S.) was born.

In 1894, the Ministry of Agriculture and the War Office offered premiums at £150 to 29 Stallions in the scheme. The Army, via their remount officers, continued to play a major part in the Society's activities and the financial backing came from the same source right up until the outbreak of the Second World War. After the war, backing was continued by the Totalisator Board and then by the Horserace Betting Levy Board. Between 1996 - 1998 financial assistance was reduced and finally withdrawn and the Society has since had to sustain itself by it’s own operations.

In 1981, the Society’s name was extended to “Hunter’s Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society”. This was intended to reflect the shift in the demand for horses for sport and leisure. In fact, with the Army now almost completely mechanised, the Society’s emphasis totally changed and breeders became much more selective. Quality was of the up most importance and the market for the ‘Competition Horse’ became very strong. To this aim, the Society started to register Stallions of other types whilst continuing with its established policy of making available the sound, strong, Thoroughbred Stallion.

In 1998 the Society went through its most recent transition and became Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain. The Society now grades and registers all breeds of horse with the main objective of producing a correct, sound, athletic sport horse with the potential to exceed in Show Jumping, Dressage or Eventing.


THE SOCIETY TODAY (Back to top)      

Today Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain is a professional Society run by a Council elected annually by its members. To date, SHB (GB) has over 3,500 members and a Council of up to 15 members. The Society has 3 sub-committees the Brood Mare Committee, Stallion Committee, and Show Committee who look after the operations of the Society in these areas. The objectives of the Society are to:

1. Maintain the Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain Stud Books
2. Promote and market the achievements of British bred sport horses nationally and internationally
3. Operate schemes to improve the quality of British bred sport horses
4. Oversee the governance of Show Hunter and Sport Horse Classes nation wide

The breeding objective of Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain is to produce a correct, sound, athletic sport horse with the potential to exceed in Show Jumping, Dressage or Eventing.


THE COUNCIL 2007 (Back to top)        

Chairman: R W Warden Esq

The Hon Mrs J C G Cavendish

M A Fitton Esq
B Higham Esq
P Hobbs Esq
N Hollings Esq
Lady C Howick
Mrs M Lowe MBE (nee Gordon-Watson)
M Lucey BVMS MRCVS Esq
R Oliver Esq
D Walters Esq
R W Warden Esq
P Warcup Esq


BROOD MARE COMMITTEE 2007

Chairman: Mrs M Low

SHOW COMMITTEE 2007

Chairman: Mr P Hobbs Esq

STALLION COMMITTEE 2007

Chairman: D Walters Esq
 

What DO We Do? (Back to top)   

THE BRITISH SPORT HORSE INDUSTRY (Back to top) 

Britain has been producing top class sport horses for many years and now the Society is able to emphasise the outstanding national and international influence our graded stallions have had. SHB (GB) is committed to supporting the British sport horse breeding Industry by providing incentives for breeders, education and high standard grading schemes.

We aim to promote the British bred competition horses in order to secure international recognition and enable Great Britain to take its rightful place in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses world rankings.
 

WORLD BREEDING FEDERATION FOR SPORT HORSES (Back to top) 

The Society is a Full Member of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses. This is the only international federation of studbooks for sport horses in the world. The WBFSH is the connection between the sport horse breeding organisations and international equestrian sport (FEI).

Every year an International Breeding Guide is published which provides official information on studbooks as well as pedigrees of the leading sires, breeding rankings, analysis and statistics.

SHB (GB) has consistently asserted its presence in the Individual Eventing rankings winning the WBFSH Individual Eventing Rankings Prize three years in a row with the following horses and achieved success in the overall stud book rankings out of 55 member stud books

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS – EVENTING

2000 – Sleep Late by Kuwait Beach x Fast Asleep (Grade II) by Evening Trial
2001 – Winsome Adante by Saunter x Jus with Genoa by Bohemond
2002 – Winsome Adante by Saunter x Jus with Genoa by Bohemond
2004 – Winsome Adante by Saunter x Jus with Genoa by Bohemond

STUD BOOK RANKINGS – EVENTING

2000 – 4th in the Eventing Stud Book Ranking
2001 – 2nd in the Eventing Stud Book Ranking
2002 – 2nd in the Eventing Stud Book Ranking
2003 – 7th in the Eventing Stud Book Ranking
2006 - 6th in the Eventing Stud Book Ranking
 

STALLIONS (Back to top) 

The Society grades sport horse stallions of all breeds. The process is strict and standards are kept very high. Stallions are inspected for correct conformation, movement, soundness and ability over a jump. All stallions graded with the Society have at least three generations of pedigree on each side of their parentage. All graded stallions over the age of 6 must have some performance. Stallions that don’t fulfil these criteria but pass the inspection on all other grounds are registered as Approved Stallions and carry all the same benefits for mare owners wishing to register stock onto our stud books.

 

MARES (Back to top) 

The Society grades mares of all breeds throughout the summer each year. The inspections are open to all mares over 14.2hh and are usually conducted in hand. Mares are assessed for correct conformation and movement. If the mare has any performance or if she has competing progeny this is also taken into account.

Mares are graded into one of three studbooks depending on their inspection marks and any performance they may have. All stock by graded mares become eligible for registration onto SHB (GB) studbooks.
 

HUNTER CLASSES (Back to top) 

The Society is the governing body for all affiliated in-hand and ridden hunter and sport horse classes held at major shows throughout the country. Horses entering these classes have to be registered with SHB (GB). All Show Hunter and Sport Horse results are collated and recorded and performance printouts are available for competing horses.

Our own “National Hunter Show” is held each September to determine the champion in-hand and ridden Hunter of the year.

As a Registered Charity any money we make is put back into achieving our aims.