tell me more about working hunter classes?

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lisa_lou

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Am looking to take my 6yr old irish thoroughbred mare in for her first working hunter class over 15hh. Only wanting to do it for fun and a bit of experience.
Can someone give me some info on what colours and what tack the horse should wear and what riders clothing should consist of. I normally concentrate on show jumping so dont really know anything about working hunters. Also is it just a brief individual show showing a gallop?
Many thanks for any replies
 
I don't actually compete in showing much, but when I wanted to find out more info found this website very helpful:
http://rehorses.com/hunters.html

They have loads of info about lots of different showing classes, what to wear, how to turnout the horse, what to do in the ring etc.

And when I've been to some local shows and watched the working hunter classes, they usually jump a round of rustic showjumps first, and then the ones that go clear go through to do an individual show, (sometimes the judge rides the horse instead), basically they just show walk, trot and canter on both reins, and then it isn't really a gallop, more an opened up extended canter down the long side of the ring...

This is what it says on the website for working hunter...

Rider

In 15hh workers, open workers and Intermediate SHT (adults), the rider must wear long boots, beige or canary jodhpurs.
Brown,tan or fawn gloves.
Navy or black (or brown or grey) velvet hat for SH, either velvet or skull cap with velvet cover for WH. Must be of current safety standard and done up.
Tweed jackets.
Hair tied back neatly with ribbon/scrunchie.
No spurs allowed for Intermediates of Working Hunter Pony. Spurs are correct for any adult riders though, so for Working Hunter.

Horse

Mane should be plaited, tail pulled. Heels trimmed.
Plain tack, brown is preferred. Black tack is very rarely seen in affiliated Hunter classes.
Double or pelham for open classes, snaffles for novices. If a rugby pelham is used, then a sliphead improves the look a lot. Plain browband and noseband.
A straight cut or working hunter saddle will show off the horse's shoulders and movement, so is preferable to a GP. Leather girth, or a white one is acceptable if your horse is grey, as a dark girth can distract the eye.
Quartermarkers are correct (optional) for hunters and hunter ponies.

Differences for Working Hunter

Martingales, different nosebands and bits are accepted, but in a tie-break situation then the pony with less, or 'traditional' tack will win. i.e. - double bridle or snaffle will beat gag, if everything else is equal.
Plain boots may be worn in the jumping phase - apart from removing these for the ridden section, no other change of tack is permitted.
Body protectors may be worn in the jumping phase only.
Spurs are not permitted in WHP classes.

Hope this was helpful, goodluck! :)
 
The above is brilliant info BUT the BSPS judge I was stewarding for recently kept saying that ponies looked more like hunters if they were wearing grackles/martingales/breastplates.
I will say that she is the only judge I have heard (in 25yrs) saying that but she does show WH professionally herself.
Good luck!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
The above is brilliant info BUT the BSPS judge I was stewarding for recently kept saying that ponies looked more like hunters if they were wearing grackles/martingales/breastplates.
I will say that she is the only judge I have heard (in 25yrs) saying that but she does show WH professionally herself.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Totally agree with the above - definitely look more hunter like in a martingale etc - don't necessarily need a flash or grackle - more & more are wearing a flat hunter noseband now - but the majority will be in a grackle or a flash!!
 
With regards to the rider, please, please put your hair in a net, if long enough in a bun in a net. Double net if your hair is long or thick. :) Do not use coloured numnah's, brow bands etc. Use a numnah, not a saddle cloth and sheepskin numnah's are acceptable :) Over 16's can wear spurs, but don't have to (dummy spurs complete the look) :)
 
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