In-Hand Hunter tips?

[DanielleP]

So does anyone have any tips for this class?

Handler atire?
Horse turnout?
Handling tips?

 

[SSM]

Handler - shirt, tie, hacking jacket, trousers to contrast with horses legs - ie black if grey horse, light is dark horse, jod boots, brown gloves and showing cane. and a hat (I wear a beagler)

Horse - plaited (sewn), quarter marked if you can, tail pulled or plaited and a double bridle or snaffle with hunter noseband.

Keep to horses shoulder and try and get them to stand 'square' when judge is studying conformation.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[DanielleP]

Many thanks thats great. The hat thing was what i was most intigued about. If i dont have a beagler is a hat still required or should i wear my riding hat ?

 

[SSM]

You could wear a bush hat or panama hat, or for local level your velvet hat with straps!

 

[severnmiles]

[ QUOTE ]
Keep to horses shoulder and try and get them to stand 'square' when judge is studying conformation.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree with everything but the last bit...should be stood up like:

So that the judge can see all four legs from one side, also handler should stand in front of the horse when the judge is assessing conformation so that the handler doesn't obstruct anything the judge is trying to see.

 

[severnmiles]

P.s how old is the horse?

If its a yearling its best to plait the tail but if its a 2y.o plus then best to have the tail pulled.

 

[SSM]

Now while I agree about the handler in front for conformation, I was taught at show camp by a top show horse producer that they should stand square at the front and have the off side back leg forward!

As below:

 

[virtual]

I think you're both right, in that they should be fairly square at the front compared to the back, but the judge should be able to see all 4 legs (which you can in SSM's photo).

The advantage of having the front leg nearest the judge slightly forward is it accentuates the slope of the shoulder.