Working hunter query.

[showjump]

Would it matter if a horse had a few scars and you wanted to do workers on it? Think my horse is more than capable, but does have small scar about one eye, and one on leg. Or is it the jumping/ style/ overall looks that count?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jemayni]

Scars shouldnt really matter too much; Wh can show wear & tear. My pony has a splint, does WH at county, and no judge has ever mentioned it!

 

[siennamum]

Only if you want to show at a serious level. Sienna has bad scars and they only become an issue at County level. It does depend on the judge and the horses you ae competing against also.

 

[buckybee]

What level were you thinking of?

I'm not a showing person but I would think a county level it could matter, because there would be horses as nice, with no scars. From my experience at local agricultural show level, the standard is quite low and so if you do a nice round and have a nice horse then that is more important.

You may as well give it a go and see what results you get. I think they would be a bit mean to hold the one on his eye against him.

Good luck!

 

[showjump]

Thanks, they one on his leg would only be clearly seen if fully clipped out. He has no splints so thats ok. This is the one above his eye, but is fully clipped out here so looks worse. What do you think?

His left eye! Oh and thats likit on this nose!!

 

[Baggybreeches]

It would only matter if you were equal in every way to another perhaps, but personally it would not bother me the scar above his eye is not huge and scars on legs are generally ignored, provided there is no major lump or disfigurement.

 

[FMM]

They won't matter a jot if they are not conformation defects (which they aren't from the sound of it!). Even in flat classes hunters and cobs can have a few holes and war wounds as long as they are not obvious. It is very easy to cover missing hair with make up and most judges will never notice.

 

[buzzles]

I do a lot of WH with my horse and he does very well, both at local shows and bigger county and national shows despite having a fair few hunting scars (he was a huntsmans horse as a youngster) Just tell the judges that they are scars from hunting and it won't be held against you, it is a working hunter class after all!!! Its never been held against me and I found the judges prefer a horse who has actually been hunted and are often interested in which hunts he's been out with. If he jumps and performs well, has good conformation and is the right type then they should'nt be held against him. Good luck!!