lilyoftheincas
Well-Known Member
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any knowledge on hunter trials. Are they the same as cross country? And does anyone know the minimum height? Any info welcome 
Hunter Trials
- Thread starter lilyoftheincas
- Start date
Carefreegirl
Well-Known Member
Cross country - you wear 'Colours'. Hunter trials - originally dressed for hunting ie tweed jacket and would include opening and shutting a gate and fences typical of what you would come across out hunting. Heights for unaffiliated usually start at 2ft, normally a shortened course with no tricky jumps, designed for novices, young children etc. They can go up to 3ft 3/6" but obviously depends on venue. If the course is also a BE venue then the courses should be more consistent in height and standard of jump. Don't know where you are as on phone so doesn't give location but ask at your local saddlers for courses near you.
Carefreegirl
Well-Known Member
Couldn't edit. Hunter trials and xc have merged together in turn out. I always wear colours for both and it's only been a pony club run hunter trial that I have ever had to wear tweed jacket as it was stated in the rules
lilyoftheincas
Well-Known Member
Thank you! My stables does them regularly as they have an xc course, I was thinking of trying one out hence the question
livvyc_ria
Well-Known Member
Sj and XC.
Normally you'll do your sj round in your xc colours and then once completed you'll go straight to do your xc round.
If its a nice event run by friendly people then even if you get eliminated SJ they usually still let you have a crack at the xc but obviously you will remain eliminated.
Heights start very small with some events! Check your local riding club websites they will run loads and non members can compete at an increased entry fee.
Normally you'll do your sj round in your xc colours and then once completed you'll go straight to do your xc round.
If its a nice event run by friendly people then even if you get eliminated SJ they usually still let you have a crack at the xc but obviously you will remain eliminated.
Heights start very small with some events! Check your local riding club websites they will run loads and non members can compete at an increased entry fee.
Carefreegirl
Well-Known Member
XC & HT not SJ ?????
tinap
Well-Known Member
Our pc run hunter trials. No sj, just xc & have a timed section not the whole course an optimum time.
& everyone wears colours
& everyone wears colours
lilyoftheincas
Well-Known Member
Thank you all for all of the info- the pony that I am planning to ride if all goes well has never done it before, however is a good jumper and pretty forward going. Any tips? He's got a hunter build (I think haha)
AFlapjack
Well-Known Member
Hunter trials are fab
It is literally a XC course. The smallest course near me is literally logs on the floor and the highest is 3-3'3ft. Some have an optimum time for the whole course whilst others may have a timed section with fastest as the winner or closest to optimum time given.
Some hunter trials may have a gate you open & close but for hunter trials near me the smaller classes only run through the gate way or only have to open it.
Everyone wears XC colours and you get all sorts of horses and ponies that take part.
For your first time I would concentrate on getting round instead of thinking about the time section etc. Take each jump as they come, if you choose a small height you can trot into the jumps to let him 'see' them before jumping, if he's a fairly confident jumper anyway.
They always have practice fences as well so tackle them a few times so pony knows what he's doing.
Most importantly enjoy yourself and we will want lots of photos and report when you go
It is literally a XC course. The smallest course near me is literally logs on the floor and the highest is 3-3'3ft. Some have an optimum time for the whole course whilst others may have a timed section with fastest as the winner or closest to optimum time given.
Some hunter trials may have a gate you open & close but for hunter trials near me the smaller classes only run through the gate way or only have to open it.
Everyone wears XC colours and you get all sorts of horses and ponies that take part.
For your first time I would concentrate on getting round instead of thinking about the time section etc. Take each jump as they come, if you choose a small height you can trot into the jumps to let him 'see' them before jumping, if he's a fairly confident jumper anyway.
They always have practice fences as well so tackle them a few times so pony knows what he's doing.
Most importantly enjoy yourself and we will want lots of photos and report when you go
juliap
Well-Known Member
Some HT have a timed section -placings are based on a clear round and who ever is fastest through the timed section, others have an optimum time for the whole course & placings are based on clears closest to the optimum (can't remember if is closest under or over OT or if it doesn't matter)
Some have a gate to open & others (rare) might have a slip rail where you have to get off to do it.
The ones run at venues which run BE events tend not to have the gates etc whereas the ones run by hunts are more likely to.
It can get interesting when thundering upto a gate (in timed section) when horse locks onto it & thinks you're an idiot when you pull him up & open it rather than doing the obvious & jumping it!
I've always worn x-c colours - always need a body protector.
Usually you don't get given times except maybe for the first class of the day - you put your number down on a board then wait your turn - if there is a large entry sometimes worth doing this before you tack up & get on or you can have an awful long wait.
Some can be entered on the day as well as pre entered - the entry form will have all the rules and details.
Some have a gate to open & others (rare) might have a slip rail where you have to get off to do it.
The ones run at venues which run BE events tend not to have the gates etc whereas the ones run by hunts are more likely to.
It can get interesting when thundering upto a gate (in timed section) when horse locks onto it & thinks you're an idiot when you pull him up & open it rather than doing the obvious & jumping it!
I've always worn x-c colours - always need a body protector.
Usually you don't get given times except maybe for the first class of the day - you put your number down on a board then wait your turn - if there is a large entry sometimes worth doing this before you tack up & get on or you can have an awful long wait.
Some can be entered on the day as well as pre entered - the entry form will have all the rules and details.