working hunter classes-do i plait?any top tips please.

[prudunce]

HI,I may enter a local show for sum stress free fun(i hope).Do you need to plait 4 working hunter and do i wear a hacking jacket with beige jods???shirt and tie or stock??any tips for this class wud be great,thank you!!

I take it i do a little walk,trot&canter on each rein and then do some jumpies???????? do i jump them like a sj round or wud they want a more forward pace?????

 

[toomanyhorses26]

You need to plait ,I wear tweed ,beige jods a cream shirt with a gold and green tie . Needs to be jumped out of a more forward pace than showjumping - normally do your jumping first then if you are clear get pulled back to do your individual after everyone has jumped - good luck

 

[Simsar]

Don't forget to extend after last fence. Us judges like to see them gallop on. Good luck

 

[MrsMagoo]

Ooh where u doing it hun?? we were working hunter champs dont you know

i've got a nice cutaway tweed and waist coat you can borrow if you want?? x

 

[henryhorn]

Having spent the afternoon judging WH at a local show I'm happy to help.
Yes, do plait, and clean your tack to the best you can. Avoid coloured numnahs, a shaped one is best, and blingy browbands are also not correct.
A well fitting hacking jacket and tie will be fine, don't forget your gloves and a show cane if you have one, if not then a short plain coloured whip will be ok.
At a smaller show it's mostly judged on who goes clear and if the horse looks a nice ride, I tended to ignore conformation faults because my classes were so mixed, for instance several were obviously county standard WHP, a couple were native ponies, and one a huge lumbering carthorse type..
The show organisers requested that lead reins could be used in the WHP class, and my winner in that was an unplaited pony ridden by a little boy; compared to the others the pony looked a dream to ride, jumped every single fence perfectly and both of them made the course look so effortless I felt I could ignore the unplaited rule.. The following classes had really lovely WHP types in against very average Heinz variety types, the classy ponies won because firstly they jumped well, and secondly their riders gave excellent shows.
Some basics that you should think about before you go in.
Have your stirrups at jumping length.
Plan your show well, it needs to have trot on both reins, canter and show a lengthening along one side . Don't forget to start and finish with a halt and a smile at the judge.
Something basic and often overlooked, if possible, do the whole show in front of the judge rather than have them turning circles to watch you go behind them.
I had my entrants jump first, then do their show when they came back in for the line up, the judge should tell you what they want you to do.
Jump at a fair pace, not show jumping canter.
I tend to walk down the line after giving rosettes out and try nicely to tell the riders why they were in their place; I also praise something about each one so they go out feeling good. Sometimes it's hard to find nice things to say, but I always manage something!!

 

[SpruceRI]

Henryhorn - how lovely to be a competitor under you as a judge

I've been in many showing classes over the years where the judge barely glimpses at most of the competitors, and certainly doesn't go down the line afterwards and say anything nice!!

 

[Vicki1986]

where you going hun? jump a bit more forward ryhthm than SJ..l.going clear is most important. then you go back in and all go round as a group before you do your individual displays - try to pick your 'slot' well i.e. not behind any similar looking horses so that P will stand out well in the group go round.

 

[prudunce]

hello vick the stick!!! doing the Lions show(lodge)its local and ive always fancied a WH class. Plus will do a bit of stress free sj(i hope).
Do i have to use a pelham and 2 reins???to look good in this class??

 

[Vicki1986]

snaffle pelham or double will be fine!!
really nice show there - good jumps, normally a skinny i think. good sized rings and nice ground.
i entered to go but it clashes with other show i need to go to! good luck have fun!!