A French trotter as a WH

[maddycj]

Hi,

As the title states, I’m wondering if my French trotter gelding could make it as a working hunter.

He’s 17.0 h and has about 9” of bone. I wouldn’t want to do anything more than local or county level. He’s 10 years old and has just come off the track so I’m hoping to be able to point his retraining in a direction this winter. I’m from the states so this will be my first experience with hunters in the UK.

 

[conniegirl]

Working hunter in the UK is very very different to hunters in the US.

Ideally we will need a photo of your horse stood up inhand to tell if he is the correct type for a WH class and ideally a video of him moving.

There is a vast difference between local and county level.

 

[AmyMay]

I wouldn’t want to do anything more than local or county level

County level is ‘more’.

 

[Roxylola]

When you say hes off the track, is that harness racing? If so trotting or pacing? In either case does he have a canter?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

You will only stand half a chance locally if you stop the pacing and get a true trot and canter out of the horse. Standardbreds don't do very well in showing classes over here because they aren't quite the right stamp.

 

[maddycj]

You will only stand half a chance locally if you stop the pacing and get a true trot and canter out of the horse. Standardbreds don't do very well in showing classes over here because they aren't quite the right stamp.

He’s a French trotter from their stud book so not a standardbred and doesn’t pace.

 

[ycbm]

He’s a French trotter from their stud book so not a standardbred and doesn’t pace.

Not all standardbreds pace, mine's mother is a "square trotter".

I thought all racing trotters were standardbreds, just goes to show you can learn every day

 

[maddycj]

When you say hes off the track, is that harness racing? If so trotting or pacing? In either case does he have a canter?

He was a harness racer in France and Malta - French trotters difer from Standardbreds in that aren’t used for pacing.

I’ll post a video of him and his movement soon.

 

[millikins]

Not all standardbreds pace, mine's mother is a "square trotter".

I thought all racing trotters were standardbreds.

Don't think so, the Russians have their Orlov trotters, they're not SB's.

 

[maddycj]

Not all standardbreds pace, mine's mother is a "square trotter".

I thought all racing trotters were standardbreds.

The French created their own stud book and we’re very much against allowing standardbred influence in their studbook so while some do call them French Standardbreds - that isn’t accurate. It’s just become a generic term for a harness or pacing racer.

 

[maddycj]

Don't think so, the Russians have their Orlov trotters, they're not SB's.

This is correct, the Russians and French actually created their own breed of trotters with closed studbooks.

 

[maddycj]

County level is ‘more’.

Honestly, I’m from the states and county there is definitely not a higher level of showing so apologies if I worded it wrong.

 

[ihatework]

Well ultimately it’s going to depend on his stamp and how well he trots, canters and jumps.

Anything goes at local, hell I even won a local WH on an Arab one, purely down to the fact it was the only horse in the ring that could jump.

County is in a different league

 

[maddycj]

Working hunter in the UK is very very different to hunters in the US.

Ideally we will need a photo of your horse stood up inhand to tell if he is the correct type for a WH class and ideally a video of him moving.

There is a vast difference between local and county level.

Its good to know county’s probably out of my league - it’s always good to learn!

I’m trying to post some videos of him and his movement currently.

 

[ester]

Well ultimately it’s going to depend on his stamp and how well he trots, canters and jumps.

Anything goes at local, hell I even won a local WH on an Arab one, purely down to the fact it was the only horse in the ring that could jump.

County is in a different league

For one class we had me on the welshie and a good friend on her Arab, it wasn't a particularly typey class lol.

 

[millikins]

Its good to know county’s probably out of my league - it’s always good to learn!

I’m trying to post some videos of him and his movement currently.

We've had loads of fun doing County level M&M workers with our Connie. Never won because he's never fat enough, considers the "go round" must be a lap of honour and usually goes walk, bounce, canter rather than any semblance of trotting but if he's not likely to do something horribly embarrassing I'd say don't be put off.

 

[conniegirl]

Working hunter classes over here start with a jumping round. This jumping round should be at a good flowing canter, the horse should ideally be round and something you would be happy to sot on for a days hunting. From what i’ve seen of US hunters they seem to like a slow lollopy strung out canter, that would not go down well in a UK WH class.

If you go clear you will be asked back to do a group go round with all the other clear rounds (walk, trot and canter on each rein and a gallop on one rein.
at local shows you will be asked to do an individual show with walk trot and canter on each rein and a good gallop on one rein.
At county shows the judge will ride your horse.
In either case the judge will be assessing schooling, movement and manners as well as how much they think they would enjoy a days hunting on the horse. At local they will often assess type at this point too.

At county level You may then be asked to strip the horse (so take its saddle off) and stand it up for a second judge, you will then be asked to trot it up so the second judge can assess movement and soundness.

County shows WH horse classes tend to be qualifiers or class where you need to be a member of certain societies or be riding on a day ticket. These are NOT cheap.

 

[Leandy]

County level in the UK is really the top level for showing at the big county shows (outside the championships themselves of course), so don't confuse that with local. Personally I would very much doubt that a trotter of any type will be a county level show horse in the UK because however good an example it is of its breed it won't be a true show hunter type with the type of movement expected. That doesn't mean you can't have fun at local shows though. At local shows you will get a mix of types. I'd suggest going and spectating at a few before you compete. Then you will get a feel for UK standards and procedure which will be different from what you are used to.

 

[Orangehorse]

At a local level show you can enter any class that your horse can fit into, more or less. So there might be riding horse, hunters, working hunter, cob, veteran, foreign breeds, native breeds. Some local shows can be a pretty high standard though, there are certain shows where you can feel very pleased if you do well.

When you go into County shows, these are often qualifiers for Horse of the Year Show. In these classes the judge is looking for a certain type of horse, a hack, a hunter of light, medium and heavyweight, a riding horse, and anything that does not fit into this type will come at the bottom of the line.

I have a Morgan. I have taken him into Riding Horse and Hunter classes, locally and been placed in both, although rarely winning as he doesn't fit the English judge's eye, although doing a good show always helps.