Showing help please?

[Pidge]

Ok so as am waiting for the ok to jump Pidge (today - fingers crossed) I entered the ridden hunter class at local RC on Sunday. 4 in it. Me and Pidge were correctly turned out - thanks to people's advice on here and not a hair was out of place, I'd even made sure the plaits were evenly spaced out

So did the ride around together and 2 bay horses were messing around so much so that judge made us trot longer until they had settled before we cantered. Pidge for a change behaved himself and was as good as gold despite one of the bays being up his bum during the canter

So when the judge pulled everyone in she pulled us in 4th? the 2 bays were 1st and 2nd and a coloured in 3rd - who was correctly attired and well behaved.
the 2 bays had incorrect tack - raised bridle, flash, running martingale etc and the riders didn't have the correct attire either. Also their horses were more riding horse than hunter types.
So was just after some advice as to how these classes are supposed to be judged as despite the judge telling me "beautifully turned out" I am obviously missing something! Is it a % on turnout, behaviour, stamp of horse etc? I would really like some advice please as just feel very disheartened in that we'd made the effort to be correctly turned out and Pidge behaved but we got placed below others whose horses didn't behave and were incorrectly attired?

 

[dianchi]

Local RC can differ so much from true type. But looking at your piccy looks like u were in right class.
I had this where two cobs who came 1st and 2nd in a Riding horse Class!

Dont lose heart try at another show and you might be lucky next time out

 

[Pidge]

thanks, can't post pictures as am at work, but he is a registered ISH and is 17hh and 600kg with plenty of bone! So is most definately a hunter (he hunted in Ireland before I bought him too) I suppose this is why I prefer the SJ as its either leave the fences up or knock them down and nothing on judges opinions

 

[virtual]

There is no percentage or marks for turnout - you only do it to create a good impression. The judge should however have been looking for horses of the correct type (although hunter types can vary considerably), with good manners and conforation who go correctly and/or give a good ride. It sounds like you've got your turnout right, and that's great, but showing is about having the best horses, and your part is presenting your horse so it looks like the best.

The judge may have had odd ideas about what constituted a hunter, he may have liked a horse with presence (if the top two weren't *that* naughty) or he may have seen something he particularly liked or disliked about your or the other people's horses. The only way to know for definate why you are placed where you are is to ask the judge.