Working Hunter Advice

AlDestoor

AlDestoor

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So I've set myself a target of competing in Working Hunter next year with my mare.

We're a long way off yet but I'm doing some research.

Firstly, I know I have to wear tweed etc and I already have a brown jacket.

Shes jet black so I have black tack (brown just doesn't look right).

My question is for the bigger shows where she may qualify for an evening performance, what do you wear? As I know some people opt for tails and top hat even when riding cobs and also, do you have to jump again in an evening performance?

I've also read that you need to register with SHB for bigger shows. Is this right?

And I'm 29 and 5 foot 7 and and she's 14.3, 8 years old. I don't look too big and shes stocky, are their any restrictions on height and age like some other classes?

Also, whats the difference between a novice, amateur or open class. So confused.

This is my first time competing in years and I want to get it right.
 
Blue jacket and stock for evening performance. Top hat optional, I would always use my blue velvet hat with chinstrap as I wouldn't feel safe in a top hat personally but a top hat does look much smarter! And no, you wont have to jump again in the evening.

Assuming she is a plaited and not M&M, at 14.3 she will look tiny in amongst the bigger horses but the lower height limit is 148cm so go for it! Pony classes (up to 153cm) have an age restriction with SHB and most other societies so you would be too old sadly. Have a look here http://www.sporthorsegb.co.uk/shbgb-resource-and-downloads.asp on the 'Rules and Regs 2018' and you will find answers to most of your questions above. Shows like Equifest/Royal London don't restrict on age for these classes so you could do those in the pony section. Best to just read schedules thoroughly as they will all vary apart from the SHB type shows.

Hope that made sense!
 
What level are you aiming for? It’s pretty unusual to have an evening performance at local level shows, the ‘mid level’ they’re quite popular but generally you just trot and canter round for the ‘placing’ reveal. Navy with either a hard or soft hat would be traditional for a female rider. I’d see how you get on either unaff (most places for horse classes will be around 3 foot and pretty open to 14.3s placing highly) or affiliated where its quite a bit bigger and you’ll need to jump well to combat the fact she’s not a classic hunter for the confo marks before splashing out on evening gear kit. Make sure she gives the best ride she can too! The definitions of amateur and novice along with the heights will be in the relevant rule books- each one should be quite clear who’s rules they’re running to.
 
I think the most I will be doing will be Equifest level ideally but would like the option of going a little higher but not really important.

Some of my local shows have a championship at end of season where an evening performance happens which is why I was asking and also for Equifest as I know you go through there.

She is built, shes just 14.3 so is a hunter type and she rides and jumps well.

I know she can do the full hunter classes due to her being over and I'm not too fussed about her looking small. It's a bit of fun and something I've wanted to do. I'm not aiming for HOYs or anything, Just Equifest level at most.
 
Lucy-Jay said:
I think the most I will be doing will be Equifest level ideally but would like the option of going a little higher but not really important.

Some of my local shows have a championship at end of season where an evening performance happens which is why I was asking and also for Equifest as I know you go through there.

She is built, shes just 14.3 so is a hunter type and she rides and jumps well.

I know she can do the full hunter classes due to her being over and I'm not too fussed about her looking small. It's a bit of fun and something I've wanted to do. I'm not aiming for HOYs or anything, Just Equifest level at most.
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Equifest level is a significant standard, you get a lot of HOYS qualified horses there and a lot of HOYS winners too.

At 14.3hh she would probably be better off in the hunter pony or intermediate classes but you would be too old, It is very rare that there is a small hunter WH class and even then most will be full up 15.2hh. There is nothing stopping you taking her to equifest obviously bt do go in with your eyes wide open.
 
Ok, do you think I would be better hogging her and jumping her as a working cob? I know Equifest have these classes as well but thinking of putting her in the right category really.

She looks brill either hogged or plaiting anyway.
 
Lucy-Jay said:
Ok, do you think I would be better hogging her and jumping her as a working cob? I know Equifest have these classes as well but thinking of putting her in the right category really.

She looks brill either hogged or plaiting anyway.
Click to expand...

I cant realy tell without a photo tbh
 
Lucy-Jay said:
Ok, do you think I would be better hogging her and jumping her as a working cob? I know Equifest have these classes as well but thinking of putting her in the right category really.

She looks brill either hogged or plaiting anyway.
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Best to put a picture up really. A show cob (working cob) and a plaited WHP are very different types. I have a 14.3 worker and am too old to do the classes also. She has done very well in the ones we can do because she is very true to type but we never do the horse classes, only pony classes
 
I dont think she is a cob at all.
You would be best off fully trimmed up and in the hunters. You should do ok at local level.
 
Sorry to be blunt, but she's only local level. Unless she can jump a significant track, over 1-10m you will feel very disappointed if you go to equifest or similar. Start off at local level and get your eye in. I have a 15.2hh doing HOYS workers. She looks like a midget against the big horses, but she can jump 1-20m, ( Intermediate eventer) so I don't feel too bad entering her. However, it is a lot of money to affiliate, so bear that in mind as well.
 
I have to say I think she would be very out classed at equifest.
This was my small Hunter who was just about good enough to stand up in the sort of quality you will get at equifest. Even then in open Hunter classes he was absolutely dwarfed (he was 15.2hh)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...006445.-2207520000.1534218285.&type=3&theater

Equifest is not cheap by any means, with the stabling costs, class entries, and all associated costs of a weeks worth of classes you can easily spend £500to take one horse.

I would start at local shows, don’t worry about affiliating for now, see how you get on at local shows before trying for bigger
 
She does jump around the 1m mark and does a full days hunting and cleared everything in front of her.

I know there’s a cob class at equifest which is why I was undecided as to what to put her in.

I don’t want to affiliate, I just want to have some fun with her but working hunter is what I enjoy.

I said Equifest as a lot of my friends go and it’s somewhere I’ve wanted to go to for a bit of fun and wondered what to enter her in.
 
I think that his height is unfortunate as he is technically in the pony under 15hh classes, which you have to be 20 and under, or the 15.2 are under 25, so you are two old for these. He is not really a working hunter, but is also not a show cob. Why not try riding club horse/pony at local shows instead?
 
I'm still too old for a Riding Horse type though aren't I?

I'm all new to this and theres so many classes and restrictions. I just want to get her out and have fun but want to give her a good chance of being placed. I don't know what to enter her in.
 
Riding club is different to a riding horse. Riding horses have no age restrictions, but he is definitely not a riding horse. Riding club is more for all types and will include an individual show and them popping a small jump
 
Lucy-Jay said:
She does jump around the 1m mark and does a full days hunting and cleared everything in front of her.

I know there’s a cob class at equifest which is why I was undecided as to what to put her in.

I don’t want to affiliate, I just want to have some fun with her but working hunter is what I enjoy.

I said Equifest as a lot of my friends go and it’s somewhere I’ve wanted to go to for a bit of fun and wondered what to enter her in.
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she is definitly NOT a cob, you would look even more out of place in the Cob class
This is a show cob!
http://www.theirishhorse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/main.h4.jpg

At Equifest I would say you would be better off in the riding club horse classes (not the riding horse, thats totaly different), there is also a begginers WH, an Eventers WH and a sport horse WH. I'd suggest those over any of the Cob or hunter WH classes.
 
Lucy-Jay said:
Are there any age restrictions or height restrictions in the Riding Club Horse?
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Not generally.
Some shows do ask for proof of riding club membership (and I think Equifest is one of them) to allow you to enter the class but other than that there are no restrictions.

I've just had a look at the equifest 2018 schedule, there is also a ridingclub working hunter class and a performance working hunter class that you could do.
 
Ahh brill, I think I may go for that then.

Like I say I just want to have some fun with her and go to Equifest for the atmosphere and with my mates too but stick to what she's good at as well.

I'm not interested in going higher at this moment in time. My days of stressing over it are done!
 
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