Working Hunter- What does it involve?

[JessPickle]

There is a big local show soon and I am considering what classes to enter. Was considering entering the working hunter 2ft6-2ft9. What do you have to do in this, please use simple language!

I have never done any showing ever!! Would pickle be suitable, it says 14.3hh and over, he is a 17.1hh clydesdale x who will jump almost anything. Also what tack would be needed for a working hunter, I have a black dressage saddle or a brown GFS pro event saddle!

If not I may just enter the SJ events

just was considering a change.

A few pictures of Pickle

 

[Coffee_Bean]

I *think* you have to do a amall individual show, and jump round a course of "rustic" fences, and at my local show then also have to open and close a gate and jump a ditch... but other people will know better than me

 

[JessPickle]

[ QUOTE ]
I *think* you have to do a amall individual show, and jump round a course of "rustic" fences, and at my local show then also have to open and close a gate and jump a ditch... but other people will know better than me

[/ QUOTE ]

what is a small individual show? (excuse the complete novice!) rustic fences/ditch not a problem. Gate also not a problem as we have loads of gates hacking!

 

[Damnation]

An individual show will be like, a walk trot and canter on each rein.
Usually if its a "proper" show and not a "fun" show they will have a set individual show, usually to include walk, trot, extended trot, canter and extended canter.
That is what they do over here anyway, hope this makes sense

 

[Damnation]

Oh and forgot to mention, brown tack is more correct for showing

 

[JessPickle]

ah thanks

good thing saddle is brown. I have a bridle with a thick flat cavesson, but what bit should he be ridden in. He normally varies between a loose ring waterford, full cheek snaffle with lozenge and a NS universal, all which I assume are incorrect for showing!

 

[nessie1288]

I have never met the gate i must say. Sometimes the judge will ride your horse but not always at local shows. You may be asked to strip him and run up in hand, also they often go round together so would want to keep his hair on for this phase!!! GFS saddle would be fine.

 

[JessPickle]

[ QUOTE ]
I have never met the gate i must say. Sometimes the judge will ride your horse but not always at local shows. You may be asked to strip him and run up in hand, also they often go round together so would want to keep his hair on for this phase!!! GFS saddle would be fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

It says on schedule judge may ride horse, thats definetly not a problem as he is on working livery so perfectly used to lots of people riding him. The running in hand worries me he can be a tad lazy sometimes!

 

[Damnation]

I'm not so sure about bits..
I *think* that for working hunter the choice of bit doesn't really matter as long as the horse goes well.
But as I said I am not overly sure..
Any showing buffs out there - please feel free to correct what I have just said

 

[RunToEarth]

Depends what level. Local-You will have to jump the course of jumps, if you go clear you will go back in with the other clears to walk trot and canter with the rest of the class- not sure if you have to have a gallop at local level, do a small individual show when you are all lined up- walk trot and canter on both reins. I'm not 100% whether judge will ride at local level, I suspect not. I would go in the event saddle- most workers do. Whatever bridle/bit you use for the jumping phase must not be altered to the flat stage should you go clear- the only thing allowed to be removed are boots from jumping to flat.
x

 

[nessie1288]

Any of the bits you mention would be fine for WH.

 

[JessPickle]

[ QUOTE ]
Any of the bits you mention would be fine for WH.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really

friends kept saying he'd have to have a pelham in

 

[mavandkaz]

i used to do local working hunters, may run differently from show to show but in the past it went like this:
go in and jump course of rustic type fences.
those that went clear (possible 4 faulters if not many clears) then go in together, walk trot, canter and usually gallop up long side.
pulled in for initial line up.
either individual show or judge rides horses.
then horses stripped and trotted up (only if they haven't already been seen in a showing class)
get back on and final line up called.
hope that makes sense - as i said this is how it was run when i did local stuff but wouldn't be surprised if its run differently in different places.

 

[teresagarsden]

You jump a course of rustic fences this may also include: water trough/ ditch / white gate or planks.
Then if you have no stops or run outs after all the competitors have jumped you will be called back in to do the ridden show section.
for this you will be asked to walk, trot and canter( maybe a gallop up one side) around with the others then the judge will bring you in to line up.
then you can do a short individual show eg. walk away trot back, figure 8 in trot , figure 8 in canter with trot change and halt slightly away from the judge and salute.
Then you will be placed in order.
If it is a bigger show some judges may ask for a short in-hand show just to check confirmation. ( stand up in front of judge, walk away, turn horse around away from you the trot quietly back towards then past the judge.)
Give it a go your horse sounds like it would do well, i love WHP classes they are more fun and not as strict with lumps and bumps.
The idea is to see a horse that would be happy and safe for a days hunting.
Good luck.
Teresa

 

[LadyRascasse]

am i right in assuming this is the plumpton show?

 

[welshied]

You have to jump a small course of rustic fences, if you go clear the judge will bring you back in where you will show him walkin, trotting and cantering under saddle on both reins, you then take saddle etc off and walk and trot in hand! He looks like an ideal type to do the class, very pretty!

 

[mavandkaz]

forgot to add about tack -
jumping section in whatever you would normally jump in.
for the show section, stay in the same tack but remove any brushing/over-reach boots.

 

[Cliqmo]

Hello,

I too have very limited experience, literally just a handful of local shows that I entered with my Mum's hunter last summer because I was bored! He was fat and his hog was growing out (he really is a hunter!) but we did pretty well, so I guess they like the type even if not perfectly turned out/practised! However at each one they seemed to stick to the same routine so I shall set it out below:

All class entrants enter the ring and circulate around the arena, occasionally the judge will ask for a change of pace or a change of rein and I assume she takes this time to compare all of the horses against eachother (and to test brakes etc!)

Then everyone lines up and one by one the horses all go and do a mini display, which in most instances was a trot and canter on each rein (in a figure of 8) and then a faster canter around the arena (at which point I assume the option of fences is included, although the classes I entered did involve jumping) before rejoining the group stood in a line.

Once finished with the displays the judge then walks down the line and asks each rider a few questions about the horse i.e it's age, it's condition, it's temperament etc.

The whole group then circles the arena again whilst she phaffs with paperwork and comes to her decisions. When you get pulled back in, it is in the line up of places.

This is only my experience but as I say its what happened to me..

I rode in brown leather bridle with snaffle, brown leather gp saddle and tweed jacket. Nobody asked whether it was a snaffle so you may get away with a waterford?

 

[TGM]

Normally, at local level, you will be asked to jump a course of rustic jumps first - you might have a stile, a gate, a brush fence etc. Sometimes the organisers will add a few spooky things to make it more interesting - stuffed sacks, flower pots, plastic pigeons, water trays, barrels etc.

Normally, only the competitors with clear rounds will be called back for the next phase, unless there are hardly any clears in which case they will call back those with the least jumping faults. You will then be asked to ride around the ring as a group in walk, trot and canter, and then change the rein and do the same on the other rein.

Then you will be called to line up and be asked to do an individual show, which will normally include some walk, then a figure of eight in trot, a figure of eight in canter, then a gallop along the long side of the arena. Finally you will halt in front of the judge and salute.

The judge will then scratch his or her head and try and work out the winner based on jumping performance, manners, way of going, conformation and paces. Normally, the clear rounds will be placed highest, even if they are not the best looking animals in the ring, unless they have done something really awful such as bronc, rear, nap etc.

Turnout should really be brown saddle (working hunter style, gp or jumping saddle) and brown bridle, plain as poss. Preferably plain brown numnah that follows line of the saddle. Tweed jacket, velvet hat, brown gloves, hairnet, shirt and tie, brown jodhpur boots for pony riders, black long boots for horse riders, buff/beige/canary breeches/jodhpurs. Horse should be plaited, tail pulled or solo-combed, heels trimmed etc. However, at local level you will see a huge range of saddlery and clothing!

If Pickle jumps nicely and is happy to tackle jumps that look a bit different, and is well-mannered in a group situation, then I would definitely have a go.

 

[Cliqmo]

Just thought you might like to see some pics, it amused me GREATLY that I came 2nd in this class, out of 15!

and this is the boy (much more trim) doing his real job

 

[black_n_white]

I've never done any showing so can't offer you any practical advice but you might find this site helpful: http://rehorses.com/what_to_do_ridden.html

 

[Pearlsasinger]

In the event that more than 1 horse goes clear, the judge will take into account jumping style (should flow more than SJ), manners and conformation. Small blemishes of the type which might be picked up whilst out hunting will not count against him.
Marks will be given after each phase and should be available to be seen by competitors after the class.

 

[smirnoff_ice07]

Normally everyone has to jump a course of rustic fences, then if you jump clear you are called in for the showing phase.
For the Showing you usually have to all walk trot and canter round together on both reins, then the judge will line everyone up in the middle and call each horse forward individually. They look over it and then ask for an individual show, when you've done it you salute and go back to the line up. After that the judge walks everyone round again and pulls the ones back in that have got placed.
I tend to do the jumping with a breastplate and martingale but you are normally only allowed a snaffle or double bridle for the showing phase.
Hope that helps!

 

[Pinkwellies2]

I used to steward for my OH when he judged Workers, this is how I remember it being and how he would judge.
Each competitor is given a scoresheet, think its out of 100, 50 for the jumping there are marks deducted for any faults occurred jumping and then I think there is a mark for style and performance. OH liked to see a nice flowing round, controlled not too fast but horse willing to go forward.
He would then bring back all the clears although occasionally in a novice/beginners class he would get everyone back in. The group would ride round, in walk, trot and canter, if there was room he would ask for an extended canter or gallop, this would be down one side of arena, instruction would be to gallop when passed steward, then back to walk. This was to judge horses behaviour in group. It would vary on whether he did this due to horses in group, ages of riders, if he didn't think it would be safe he wouldn't ask for it.

Each rider would present their horse for inspection, and then be asked to do a a small show, walk trot and canter on both reins. Usually walk away from judge, trot back and then continue on with show. Again they may ask for a gallop.

He would add up all marks and one with highest mark would win.
He was always very keen on good manners, I saw him put down a horse who had done a good show and jump but had horrendous manners, wouldn't stand for judge or in line etc. Ponies had to be safe, he would consider whether he would be happy sending our daughter out hunting on them. Horses were allow a little more leeway and I remember once when he couldn't split two for first he picked the one he would have liked to have ridden.

Turnout wise, you should be neat and tidy, doesn't matter if its not posh or brand new, just clean. If you have long hair tie it back and use a hairnet, (I know someone who lost a class when judge couldn't split them cos the other person had a hairnet on). Preferably a tweed jacket, shirt and tie and brown gloves.
The horse should be plaited unless native, tack clean, no brightly coloured saddlecloths, would suggest a brown one given the colour of your horse. Bridle, plain brow band not fancy. However I think you should use what ever bit you are comfortable and feel safe jumping in,

Remember to smile at judge and say good morning/afternoon when they approach you. Accept any comments/suggestion gracefully, even if you don't agree, wait till you leave the ring to have a moan.

Main things is to have fun, you have a lovely horse, and at the end of the day if it all goes pearshaped its not the end of the world.