Here is Teddy (2nd at HOYS and RIHS in 2006)
(He is for sale ... !!!)
Do you mean how does the class work? If so, usual all in together, walk trot, canter, gallop (usually no change of rein). Pulled in in order, judge rides, strip for conformation, final walk round then final pull in. Often two judges for the hunter judges now (one ride and one conformation).
Up here the hunters normally just get put in together or its LW/MW or MW/HW. I know the sizing is to do with how much a horse can carry but how do you tell what size a horse is. To me Teddy looks quite fine and I would have thought a MW who have more bone. But then I do know nothing about showing!
When I rode him last year I had a leg up which got me 2/3rds of the way up, then another leg up to get into the saddle. I am only used to cobs and small hunters and it was WAAAAY too high for me up there. We got to the end of a 60m school in about 5 trot strides.
Just to add, looking at the HOYS catalogue, he was the tallest horse competing. Although, as they don't have to be measured in the weight classes for hunters, it is all a bit of a guessing game for most of them!
lol i bet the judges face was a picture when they saw the size of boots, did they need a leg up too?
hes really stunning though you cant beat a good grey.
i cheat when i get on my big lad too, i either get a leg up or jump on him off the wall.
im just not flexable enough, and wear and tear on knees is showing now so not possible to mount properly anymore lol.
I have a middleweight who i show, and can upload piccs later. Ive competed to county level but not as far as HOYS! lol.
But i would agree with above there are usually two judges one who rides and the other does the trot up. They usually work from bothe ends of the class. ie so while one is being ridden by the judge the other end of the row is being stripped and trotted inhand. My issue is that shadow is 16hh and we never come more than 2nd. We are always beaten by something taller! Although we have only ever come last (he bucked (lots!)) once so i know its not because of poor conformation. So im not sure how important height is to a judge in the class, i thought it would be the ride the horse gives the judge plus conformation. But manners is important!
I do think they are getting taller and taller.
They are all beautiful, FMM, but can you imagine actually hunting something 18.3!! What ifm you had to get off for a wee?? And how many trees would tou take out!