Working Hunter Classes - dumb questions

[Gorgeous George]

Ok bear with me here I am very new to horse owning (1 month

) and at the moment I am just enjoying having fun with my new horsey, but a couple of people have said that when he is better muscled he would make a nice working hunter, he is a 16.3 chestnut thoroughbred x shire/ID. Before you answer my questions please remember I've never been to a show (other than one organised by a riding school

) so I would be looking at pretty low level local stuff!
So here goes:
Do WH horses have to be particular breeds/heights/colours etc?
Do you plait for WH classes or should his mane be hogged?
What do you have to do in the class?
I know you have to do some jumping, is this much and how high?
Does he get ridden by the judge?
Does his conformation have to be perfect?
Are there limitations on the tack/bits you can use?

Ok that's about it, thanks for your help and apologies for knowing nothing!

 

[moodymare1987]

You plait them in working hunter, Your horse will be in the over 153cms class they willl also have a novice class over 153cms for you to do aswell.
Colours are irrelevant your horse would be fine for workers as hes quite well built anyway.

You go to the judge then they send you off to do the jumps, About 9 sometimes more sometimes less. The jumps for the novice are usually around 2ft6-2ft9 at my riding club they are 2ft9 for novice working hunter, But for the open they are around 3ft to 3ft3. Again at my riding club they are 3ft3.

You jump all jumps then come out of ring to let others jump, If you are through to the second phase you all go intogether, trot canter and usually extend together then all line up do individual show, including an extension in canter.

Whatever you jump horse in you keep all the tack the same for the showing part of the class. Conformation doesnt have to be perfect as its only riding club anyway. I think I answered all of the questions??

 

[Gorgeous George]

Thanks you are a star! It's kind of irrelevant at the moment as we are only jumping 1ft 6" (George can jump much bigger!) and I don't have any transport - just like to think of something to aim for even if it is years away!

 

[conniegirl]

Also possibly as he is a horse the judge may ride rather then an individual show. this is very very rare at RC level but has happened at my RC once or twice.

 

[moodymare1987]

Not a problem. Its something to aim for isnt it. You have only just got george so there is no rush at all. I am doing my first working hunter course on my new horse, I did them on my pony but got a big horse now so am doing the bigger classes should be entertaining.

 

[ColouredFan]

Our pony club does a 2'3 novice WH combination not to have been placed 1st-3rd before, so look out for one of these, I use a plain snaffle plain flat noseband and a leather martingale (if you need one) boots can be worn for the jumping but must be removed before you go in to be assesed as a group/ind displays. Conformation is taken into account but the final placing are decided on a combination of jumping, display, conformation, and manners.

good luck!

 

[moodymare1987]

It is different for each show I suppose what they do and how high you jump etc so just check the schedule out for the height and you will soon find out if they ride the horses lol. I went to a show the other day and its the only one Ive been to and they rode the horses in the working hunter. It was riding club level but you dont see it to often so I wouldnt worry about that either.