Working hunter pony

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harrihjc

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I watched the working hunter pony classes at Kent County yesterday, and was a little surpised by the ponies in them, I always thought working hunters were fairly substantially built, with a reasonable amount of bone, but most seem to be quite finely built
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There were some really lovely ponies in it, and the course looked really nice and inviting, but it was just not what I was expecting. Was it just an unusual bunch there yesterday, or are tehy actually not as well built as I thought?

Would Flash look out of place in working hunter pony classes? Pictures were taken as a 4yr old, he's filled out a bit more and obviously still muscling up and growing into himself (please excuse dodgy headcollar and my jumping position, we're working on it
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He looks like a great working hunter pony.

To be honest I don't think there is a specific type of WHP. The idea is that they behave themselves, move well, have good conformation and jump. Those should be the most important factors when judging a WHP class.
 
well it's certainly worth a go, he doesn't heat up at all (that I've seen anyway!) and he's a very laid back sensible sort, just needs to learn how to gallop with me on board, I know he can shift in the field but we'll have to find some space to give it a go!
 
How big is he and how old are you?
WHPs are marked 50 for jumping (-10 for knock down - 20 (I think) for refusal
20 for style & performance whilst jumping
10 Conformation
20 for way of going on flat
So the jumping phase carries a lot of marks!, I've been to many shows where there are only one or two clears so a bold forward going jumper is hard to beat
 
He's 15hh and I'm 21, there were a fair few that looked bigger than him in it, but I don't know the rules of riders age etc?? I don't remember seeing any adults in it come to think of it!
 
He looks like he'd make a good worker
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The ponies that are really substantial are the Show Hunter ponies! i was amazed at just how stocky they can be!
 
20 is the rider age limit for 15hh WHPs, however you would be eligible for intermediates - horse up to 15.2hh & rider up to 25 years.
Jump heights - up to 1.15 height & 1.25 spread in opens
1m height & 95cm spread in novice.
Wouldn't worry about his not being full up 15.2 as we have a pony who is barely over 13.2hh and is v.succesful in 14hh workers. Give it a go - plenty schooling at home over bullfinches & water trays would be my best tip as they always catch a fair few out!
 
He looks like he would make an excelant worker.If hes a bold careful jumper and goes wellon the flat then he should do very well. When i hadmy 13hhpony we used to do workers and sometimes ponies would come straight out of the show hunter pony, change the brow band to a plain one and then go into the whp!!
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which i think is terrible, they cant be both. so yeah sometimes you see finer ponies in the workers.
 
thank you for all your help! I'm pretty new to all this showing stuff, have only done one coloured class (which he won
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So what would be classed as novice? Intermediate? Is it horse age? Rider age? Experience? He's only just turned 5 and I'm nearly 22. What sort of jump heioght in intermediates?
 
Intermediate refers only to height of horse/age rider rather than any winnings etc - as said 158 cm for horse and rider up to 25 years.
Jump heights - see my previous post, your horse would be initially classed as a novice this means- assuming rules are same as other height classes - not to have won 3 B.S.P.S. open workers or any H.O.Y.S. Qualifier in W.H.P.
 
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When i hadmy 13hhpony we used to do workers and sometimes ponies would come straight out of the show hunter pony, change the brow band to a plain one and then go into the whp!!
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which i think is terrible,

[/ QUOTE ]

But Show hunter Ponies also wear plain browbands (and a good WHP is often a SHP that jumps), they are afterall good hunters.
 
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