Someone tell me about Hunter trials please

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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There is a little diddly hunter trial in our area in Nov and I am vaguely thinking about taking Hovis.
Now I've never been to one so what does it involve?
Is it timed?
Do you have to do clever things like open gates etc?
What do you wear?
Will I have to take the Destroyers feathers off? If so I'm not going as I am not clipping his legs off for one day.
How many fences are they usually? This is a baby one at 2ft - I am such a wuss!!

Anyway any help for a HT virgin greatly appreciated - at the very least it might convince me its a very very bad idea!
 
Up where i live a hunter trial is a timed XC course, with optimum time and penalties for run outs etc. It is similar rules to an eventing XC phase usually.

No special turnout for horse and defo no gates to open, judges at all fences!

There can be any amount of fences, courses ive been to around 15-25 on intro courses, with small ditches, water etc.
 
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There doesn't seem to be a standard set of "rules". Some have gates and some don't. some will have a timed section which may include the gate and some may have a "bogey" time ie penalties for either too fast or too slow. Usually about 20 fences. Unlike BE intro you may get little jumps into and out of water and small combinations.

Don't worry - get some schooling rounds in first and then just go and have fun. I wouldn't worry about turn out too much - you dont need to plait. You will need a body protector. Probably best to wear a sweat shirt or rugby shirt with a stock.

Go for it and enjoy
 
cob1 said:
Up where i live a hunter trial is a timed XC course, with optimum time and penalties for run outs etc. It is similar rules to an eventing XC phase usually.

No special turnout for horse and defo no gates to open, judges at all fences!

There can be any amount of fences, courses ive been to around 15-25 on intro courses, with small ditches, water etc.
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I wish we didn't have gates - most in S Glos do and it's a pain in the a***:D
 
They are much fun :D

They tend to be timed over a certain area of the course which will be noted on the course plan, sometimes it is timed over the whole course but not often.

I have never had to open gates in the ones I have done, but I believe they can sometimes be included though not common.

Light coloured jods, xc top with body protector, long boots is the normal attire :)

Doesn't matter how the horse is turned out so Destroyer's feather are safe :p

In the small classes there is normally around 10 - 15 jumps, but again varies between organisers.

Is really is a lot of fun, would highly recommend giving it a go :D
 
Hovis_and_SidsMum said:
There is a little diddly hunter trial in our area in Nov and I am vaguely thinking about taking Hovis.
Now I've never been to one so what does it involve?
Is it timed?
Do you have to do clever things like open gates etc?
What do you wear?
Will I have to take the Destroyers feathers off? If so I'm not going as I am not clipping his legs off for one day.
How many fences are they usually? This is a baby one at 2ft - I am such a wuss!!

Anyway any help for a HT virgin greatly appreciated - at the very least it might convince me its a very very bad idea!
Click to expand...

-Hunter trials usually have times sections, where there is a section of several fences (usually around 5-6) and you have to jump this section of fences in a speedy time.
-Some Hunter trials require you to open a gate, but usually that element is left for the big guns (3ft and above) However, depending on the place in which you are competing you may have to open a gate.
-You have to wear a hacking jacket, XC colours are not really aloud, although some newcomers who dont read the rules get away with it. Cream,white, canary colour jodhs, plain hat silk-if you have a crash hat, and everything else you would usually wear, suitable footwear ofcourse. Also, its your choice but a body protector, personally, i think its a good thing to wear. Better be safe than sorry!!
-You dont have to take his feathers off, or hack at any other part of him. As long as he's clean and presentable, nobody will care. (It might be a good idea to put baby-oiled water on his legs, if you are required to go through muddy patches and water, as it makes the mud and dirt easier to remove-your choice!)
-There can be any amount of fences but usually any amount above 15. Again, it depends on the place.


GOOD LUCK!! you are not a wuss and you will be fine! Have fun, becasue hunter trials are one of the most fun things i have ever done! Would love to hear how you get on if you go!
 
Tiggerlilly said:
You have to wear a hacking jacket, XC colours are not really aloud, although some newcomers who dont read the rules get away with it. Cream,white, canary colour jodhs, plain hat silk-if you have a crash hat, and everything else you would usually wear, suitable footwear ofcourse.
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Really? I haven't seen a hacking jacket at a hunter trials in years :p I'm not having a go, it is technically correct to wear a hacking jacket. TBH, I'd be surprised if a lot of youngsters even know you are supposed to wear one as most places now say either hacking jacket or cross country colours are permissable (and there's always a few decked out in luminous pink, hat silk included :D). Personally, I wear purple & lilac jumper with a dark purple hat cover, cream jods and brown boots because my hacking jackets cost me a lot more than my jumper should it get damaged in a fall :o My colours used to be pale pink and green :D
 
I've only ever seen about 3 people in hacking jackets at HTs..... The only one I've done didn't have a gate (well, there was one to jump!) and just had a timed section about half way around. I wore long boots or boots & chaps, pale jods, rugby shirt, body protector & skull cap, and gloves :P
Horse just wore normal jumping kit & boots all round.

Would love to do some more if I was a bit braver! :P Good luck!
 
I've never seen anyone in a hacking jacket at a HT, always people in XC colours.

The only HT I *haven't* had to open a gate in is the big one at Eland Lodge. Every other one I've ever been to has had a gate to be opened and closed, and it's always been part of the timed section.
 
They're so much fun... defo go for it! :D
Around us you wear hacking jacket, or XC colours (can just be rugby shirt), pale jods, BP, skull cap....
No special turnout for horse... don't need to plait...
Have fun :)

Oh, and there sometimes are gates and sometimes not...
 
chestnut cob said:
The only HT I *haven't* had to open a gate in is the big one at Eland Lodge. Every other one I've ever been to has had a gate to be opened and closed, and it's always been part of the timed section.
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I love it when they put a gate in the timed section as my horse & I often act as gate closer out hunting, so it gives us a chance to make up some time on speedy but impatient horses ;) :D
 
Go for it!! We did our first ever HT last September, just a little 2ft course of logs, sleepers, barrels and a bank. There was no timed section and no gate, we were just timed on the course and there was an optimum time. George wore his usual jumping attire and I wore xc gear and had to have a body protector and medical armband. I was so nervous beforehand, but we both had so much fun that day :)
 
Definitely have a go - it's really is fantastic fun, particularly the smaller courses where there is nothing really scarey or too technical. I

haven't done one for years due to lack of transport and unsuitable horsepower, but really miss it (and I'm not brave either). Always worn XC colours/cream breeches/black boots. You will be terrified beforehand but the exhilaration when you cross the finishing line is amazing - I always want to go round again - and the Destroyer will love it!
 
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