working hunter...confusion

N

naid pollyanna

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 April 2011
Messages
190
Visit site
i have a 15.2 ex racer she is shown as a riding horse and has a decent amount of muscle...and a lovely jump...i was told by jo callwood to do some working hunter with her.

obviously she is shown usually in her glammed up browband but obviously hunters have the plain leather brow band...would this then be the same for my horse if she did the workers class....if so could i get her a plaited leather brow band?

also is there any restriction on the type of martingle..does it just have to your very plain running martingale as mine is elasticated and attaches to the saddle etc? also if i was to use my pelham for this class would it still be correct to use a martingale or not and which rein would go through the ring?

please help thank you!:D
 
Last edited:
A plain leather browband is correct. I think it should just be a plain martingale to minimise any disruption to the lookof the horse.
 
Don't think I have ever seen a horse in a plaited browband I have mainly seen them on SHPs and M & Ms. Edited to add she will look a bit dwarfed if she does an open worker. If you are under 25 you could do intermediates.
 
IMHO a pelham and running martingale would be overkill and judges will probably take a dim view. I have seen them used with the snaffle rein going through the martingale, however, if the horse puts its head up the martingale will reduce the leverage on the curb rein as the pull would be down and the curb is activated by the shank being pulled up. This will negate the effect of the curb and force the head down instead of lifting and controlling the poll.
Eric Lamaze sometimes rides at Hickstead with his curb rein through the running martingale ring but I think for a WH you should either just use the pelham without the martingale or a snaffle with the martingale.
Hope this helps.xx
 
Or.......wow the judges by showing them a beautifully schooled, balanced horse, who is wearing what a hunter should wear .......a smart double bridle, with a plain browband and noseband that is thick enough to flatter the shape of the head.

Let a good looking and correct horse do the talking, don't cover it up with loads of tack.
 
I don't think they are supposed to be marked down for want of a better phrase for the martingale and the ride is judged as it is, regardless of whether a martingale or not. Horses win at the top shows in WH classes with martingales. That said if horse could jump clear without then would obviously go without.
 
Hi Humblepie, I was implying that they may get marked down for using two pieces of tack that technically work against each other. I agree, the less "accessories" the better. Go with the simplest equipment that works best for you and your horse.
 
I use a plaited leather browband for my boy in workers. Put the martingale through the snaffle rein and elastic breastplate/martingale is absolutely fine. At a higher level e.g. County I'd be tempted to use a plain leather martingale but I regularly use my elastic breastplate and have NEVER been marked down for this taking a few WH championships this year. Hope this helps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top