Working Hunter Local Competitions

treacle_beastie

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Can anyone help me with some working hunter advice. I am looking to start competing at local shows this summer, both me and the horse are new to it. I just want to check was dress rules there are. I have a brown/fawn tweed jacket and white shirt and I am looking at buying a brown stock. Combined with beige jods and long black boots and a black hat Is this correct or should I be wearing something else? Does the dress code get stricter up the levels i.e will I be OK in this for local and possible a county show (i'm being a bit ambitious!). Also does anyone know when and where the local shows are in the oxfordshire area. I am looking to start small and up to 2'9 max but I will have to enter horse classes.
 
For aff many people wear...

tweed (green is in atm)
beige/canary jods
navy velvet hat
long black boots
spurs
cream [****]
burgandy or other spotted tie
hairnet

Ideally you want to try and wear the 'correct' stuff for unaffiliated too. Your brown tweed will prob be ok, but you would need to change the black hat for aff. even a skull cap with navy velvet colour would be an improvement.
 
erm sorry to contradict you here, but brown tweed with black in it and a black velvet hat is what i wore for county level workers, and its what most people wear at that level, noone wears a skull cap for working hunters!!!!!!!!
 
To be honest, it is rare to see a black hat in county workers these days and some of the pros DO wear skulls! Howver, they all change into a beagler for the flat section. If you can purchase a navy harness hat then you will be able to use this all the time. Black is really not that flattering for ladies anyway! Definitely not a stock. This is correct for hunting but not for showing. Tweed is always worn with a tie in the show ring.

However, bear in mind that you will never be thrown out of the ring for wearing a black hat or a skull cap. But ALSO bear in mind that this is showing, and therefore the more correct the outfit, the better you will look!
 
Some shows have rules where beaglers are not allowed. You should read the rules before the show and ensure you are wearing the correct headgear. Some shows say they want harnessed hats, but still allow people into the ring with the wrong headgear, which is really irritating. Each schedule states what headgear is expected. However, it is best to take both types to the show, and see what people are wearing in the other classes.

More and more shows are going down the route of harnessed hats for all classes. In this case people doing flat classes would only wear a skull cap if they had absolutely nothing else with them. Generally the ladies will wear blue CO type hats and the gents will wear black ones.
 
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Check out www.niwha.co.uk it tells you just about everything!

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Interesting site, but not exactly the same turnout for county in England. We don't tend to recommend scrunchies for anyone other than children, and stocks are not correct. Gloves are NEVER black in the showring in England.
 
hi,

i judge,
personally and at un-aff level you will not get penalised but if it were a tie with you and someone else they will get the extra marks.

there is only 20% marks awarded for style and presence. so dont worry too much yet.

Correct dress is as everyone else has said.

blue hat (for ladies)
shirt and tie, (try and coordinate it with your jacket)
gloves
cream, fawn, beige jods,
long boots with spurs (wear dummy spurs if ness)
the list is long!!

I prefer to see an older horse (def 5/6yrs and older in a double bridle or rugby pelham but all bits are now allowed. or a youngster in a snaffle)

well fitting, nice cut saddle.

Match the colour of tack to the horse. i like brown.

Good Luck
 
thats answered one of my questions, thansk everyone. I havent competed in working hunter before and was hoping to give it a try at local level this summer. Typically, what size jumps would you expect to come across? (i realise it varies from show to show and level) My horse is 15hh
 
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