Working hunter?

[Sunjunkieme]

I’m after some help please. Assume I know Jack ! ?

I have a rather lovely Connie. He’s 15hh so over height, but beautiful and has fabulous confirmation. He has a splint on his near fore, but is otherwise unmarked. He jumps like a stag an is quiet and well mannered. He’s hunted in Ireland and is bold and loves his job.

i bought him as a hack, but I’m thinking I may do more.. I’m a bit in love with him ?? , so biased, but he is gorgeous.. what classes do you recommend? I’m in my 50’s, up for some excitement, but not a world beater. Thank you!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You could do working hunter with him but he needs to jump in a more flowing style than a sj'er. He will need to be able to show extension (gallop) in the show phase as well as a short w/t/c/ show and come back to hand nicely. He certainly looks to be built for the job.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

You could do working hunter with him but he needs to jump in a more flowing style than a sj'er. He will need to be able to show extension (gallop) in the show phase as well as a short w/t/c/ show and come back to hand nicely. He certainly looks to be built for the job.

Thank you! He’s a wee bit green, so defo jumps through, and gallop not an issue. ? I dis wonder if working hunter might be a goer..

 

[L&M]

What a lovely chap!

I have shown my connie x cob at local level in WH classes (as an adult). He is 15hh too.

He is always placed and sometimes wins, and even took reserve champion at our local hunt show, so say go for it! Often against bigger 'typier' horses too, but he jumps so well he wins the judges over. He also hunts weekly so feel smug when he beats the 'show' horses that haven't seen the hunting field!

However I am realistic enough to know we could never go beyond local level.........

Have fun!

 

[LegOn]

Working hunter is great - definitely give it a go!! They love a bold forward horse, one that looks like it would be fun out hunting!

If you fancied getting him measured, you can do Small Hunter WH aswell - for the 158 (15.2) and under, gives you another class to do aswell as the normal working hunter classes!

Very much depends on the judges but any horse that jumps clear that the judge likes on the day is in with a shout so why not is my attitude!

 

[Sunjunkieme]

What a lovely chap!

I have shown my connie x cob at local level in WH classes (as an adult). He is 15hh too.

He is always placed and sometimes wins, and even took reserve champion at our local hunt show, so say go for it! Often against bigger 'typier' horses too, but he jumps so well he wins the judges over. He also hunts weekly so feel smug when he beats the 'show' horses that haven't seen the hunting field!

However I am realistic enough to know we could never go beyond local level.........

Have fun!

Lovely, thank you.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I think they have no classes for that one. not advisable to work your animal strenuously during each outing. In general, if you want to just maintain an average level of fitness, then you are looking at riding them at least three times a week doing a combination of walking, trotting, and cantering. This is enough .

Thanks, but not really sure what you are getting at?

 

[Sunjunkieme]

Working hunter is great - definitely give it a go!! They love a bold forward horse, one that looks like it would be fun out hunting!

If you fancied getting him measured, you can do Small Hunter WH aswell - for the 158 (15.2) and under, gives you another class to do aswell as the normal working hunter classes!

Very much depends on the judges but any horse that jumps clear that the judge likes on the day is in with a shout so why not is my attitude!

Brilliant, thank you.

 

[conniegirl]

I think they have no classes for that one. not advisable to work your animal strenuously during each outing. In general, if you want to just maintain an average level of fitness, then you are looking at riding them at least three times a week doing a combination of walking, trotting, and cantering. This is enough .

erm what? who said anything about working a horse strenuously every day or even about the fitness of the horse? There are plenty of working hunter classes at various levels.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I think they have no classes for that one. not advisable to work your animal strenuously during each outing. In general, if you want to just maintain an average level of fitness, then you are looking at riding them at least three times a week doing a combination of walking, trotting, and cantering. This is enough .

erm what? who said anything about working a horse strenuously every day or even about the fitness of the horse? There are plenty of working hunter classes at various levels.

I did wonder if that reply was on the wrong thread!

 

[conniegirl]

I did wonder if that reply was on the wrong thread!

i've had a look at Aston852's 2 other posts, neither of which make much sense either so am very confused.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I assumed Aston852's post was written on the wrong thread as it makes zero sense!

OP I think working hunter would suit him fab, especially if he has hunted. Something like a riding club horse/pony class will probably suit as well as they are just looking for a generally well behaved horse, with 3 good paces (I've only watched a riding club horse class once and I don't remember them having to gallop but probably varies) and pop a nice jump I think about 60-70cm.

Plus if you're just going for fun which is what I plan on doing once a) covid b***ers off and b) this baby makes it's exit without causing me too much damage, then classes like handsomest gelding, nicest tail, horse judge would most like to take home etc all sound like no pressure fun!

 

[muddybay]

I assumed Aston852's post was written on the wrong thread as it makes zero sense!

OP I think working hunter would suit him fab, especially if he has hunted. Something like a riding club horse/pony class will probably suit as well as they are just looking for a generally well behaved horse, with 3 good paces (I've only watched a riding club horse class once and I don't remember them having to gallop but probably varies) and pop a nice jump I think about 60-70cm.

Plus if you're just going for fun which is what I plan on doing once a) covid b***ers off and b) this baby makes it's exit without causing me too much damage, then classes like handsomest gelding, nicest tail, horse judge would most like to take home etc all sound like no pressure fun!

Does working hunter care about breed would my welsh d thoroughbred cross (we think no recorded breeding) be able to compete?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Does working hunter care about breed would my welsh d thoroughbred cross (we think no recorded breeding) be able to compete?

No, not at all. I have seen everything from chunky ID to a Gelderlander, with many natives/native crosses in between, in local WH classes. Yours sounds more typey than many! In fact Welsh Dx TB is a pretty classic WH type.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I did wonder if that reply was on the wrong thread!

I think probably because I said I might do more with him, and she didn’t realise I meant more than just hack. Very odd though.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I assumed Aston852's post was written on the wrong thread as it makes zero sense!

OP I think working hunter would suit him fab, especially if he has hunted. Something like a riding club horse/pony class will probably suit as well as they are just looking for a generally well behaved horse, with 3 good paces (I've only watched a riding club horse class once and I don't remember them having to gallop but probably varies) and pop a nice jump I think about 60-70cm.

Plus if you're just going for fun which is what I plan on doing once a) covid b***ers off and b) this baby makes it's exit without causing me too much damage, then classes like handsomest gelding, nicest tail, horse judge would most like to take home etc all sound like no pressure fun!

Great, thank you. He knows he’s beautiful, embarrassingly stops to say hello to anyone who comments on it..) I think he might do well in the show ring. ?

 

[vhf]

Until you head into the world of county level (affiliated if you like) showing, you should be able to go to your local shows and enter pretty much any class that takes your fancy. See which you (both) enjoy most, which you seem to be more similar to the other entries in, etc. At very local level the judging can sometimes be quite unusual and correct type less important, so it matters that you have fun and are safe more than anything else. You'll soon work out if you have enough talent to go to the bigger shows in some classes.
WH is one of my favourites as it tests everything I consider essential in a good horse - manners, schooling, paces, jumping, conformation; and ability to cope in a crowd/on its own. (And sometimes to be ridden by a stranger!) Last time I went (with my fine and sharp TB/ID), we were 1 of only 3 clears and came 5th - because she tried to take the ride judge over the fences. Judge's comment was she'd be great for a day's hunting and when did she last race... Oops.

 

[humblepie]

Echo the above for unaffiliated - I used to do occasional working hunter with a little chestnut TB mare who could be guaranteed to jump clear so the stronger the course the better and then did a lot with another TB although he was much more hunter build. I don't know what it is like now but used to find some shows would have a few straw bales and rustic poles whereas some would have really testing courses with water trays, troughs (not very H & S now), corners etc. Had one where they had an L shaped fence but on the far side was a hedge and ditch marking the field boundary - I trotted into that as had visions of doing the WH jump then the hedge and ditch..... It is good fun so enjoy it.

 

[Rowreach]

Does working hunter care about breed would my welsh d thoroughbred cross (we think no recorded breeding) be able to compete?

A few years ago I put a coloured horse of indeterminate breeding through to Balmoral because it completely outperformed everything else in the class, including all the "produced" entries.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

Until you head into the world of county level (affiliated if you like) showing, you should be able to go to your local shows and enter pretty much any class that takes your fancy. See which you (both) enjoy most, which you seem to be more similar to the other entries in, etc. At very local level the judging can sometimes be quite unusual and correct type less important, so it matters that you have fun and are safe more than anything else. You'll soon work out if you have enough talent to go to the bigger shows in some classes.
WH is one of my favourites as it tests everything I consider essential in a good horse - manners, schooling, paces, jumping, conformation; and ability to cope in a crowd/on its own. (And sometimes to be ridden by a stranger!) Last time I went (with my fine and sharp TB/ID), we were 1 of only 3 clears and came 5th - because she tried to take the ride judge over the fences. Judge's comment was she'd be great for a day's hunting and when did she last race... Oops.

? I had a Welsh x TB who used to pop the dressage boards when he got bored! Thanks.