Working hunter please advise

[flow]

I have a lovely 15.1hh grey connemara x id who my friend said would do well in working hunter. Iv never competed in anything before so the whole process is new but where do I start. What do I do in the class? What should we both be wearing? What should I be practicing at home. Many thanks in advance

 

[Springy]

There will be rustic jumps in the class they might be around a metre but that depends where you go at 15.1hh you would be in the horse rather than the pony class.

You will have to walk trot canter and gallop on both reins as well as the jumps. The judge doesnt usally ride them...

You should be wearing (female I presume) tweed and a stock (or you would up here) and beige breeches or jods and long boots black or brown.

You horse would wear normal tack with a shaped numnah the same colour as your saddle or no numnah at all. Boots are allowed for the jumps but you would normally take them off/not wear them for the showing part.

You would plait up mane and pull or plait tail.

Hope that helps.

 

[trottingon]

Basically there are two aspects to unaffiliated/riding club level working hunter classes, firstly jumping then showing, it works as follows: -

- Competitors go in the ring one at a time and jump a rustic course (you then hang around and see how everyone else gets on with their round) The judge will watch the round and score/assess your jumping with regard to faults and also jumping style/way of going of your horse - basically forward going but controlled showing the ability to go hunting
- based on faults during the jumping you are then invited back into the ring for the showing section, ie: if there are enough clear rounds they will be the only ones invited back into the ring, or perhaps the clears and four-faulters depending on numbers, sometimes at smaller shows everyone will be invited back into the ring, if the judge has time for them all to get the experience of doing the showing section.
- the showing section is very similar to most flat showing classes, ie: there will usually but not always be a go round in walk trot and canter, then each competitor does an individual show, however the judge will want to see some extension in the canter on a long side of the ring during your individual show.
The judge will also now take into account your way of going during the jumping phase as mentioned above, and decide on the placings.

Generally unless the ones who did well in the jumping section have had some disastrous individual shows, the clear rounds will be placed above the four faulters who will be placed above the eight faulters etc etc...

Hope this helps?