| According to the rules all hunters are to be judged on | | | | training so your horse is not surprised by flowers, brush |
| their jumping form. This means that their jumping style, | | | | or coops when they are at a show. |
| that is, knees up and rounding, or their bascule, is the | | | | If there are few participants in a class a refusal or |
| number one priority. | | | | run-out may get a low placing. |
| Competitors show over a course of minimum of eight | | | | Knock Down |
| fences that simulate jumps found in a field hunt. Jumps | | | | A fence is considered to have been knocked down |
| such as stone walls, hedges and coops are often | | | | when the pole is no longer resting in the support. A |
| used as well as natural colored poles. The horse, | | | | knock down is a major fault and is scored as such. A |
| however, must be able to knock down the top | | | | perfectly good round can be destroyed by an untimely |
| element of the obstacle. | | | | rail. A knockdown is considered a major fault. If I see a |
| In addition to their form over fences, hunters are also | | | | 'K' on my sheet I will not place this horse unless I have |
| considered on their manners and way of going during | | | | to. |
| the round. | | | | To prevent knock downs while on course prepare |
| When showing in the hunter ring you are judged from | | | | your horse for the show season with a systematic |
| the moment you enter the ring and the judging stops | | | | training program to develop your riding and your horse. |
| when you leave the ring. | | | | Gymnastics will develop strength and agility and also |
| As a judge critiques your round, they keep score with | | | | prepare the rider for the courses. |
| their own personal series of cryptic symbols to remind | | | | Breaking or Trotting |
| them how the horse performed. Each fence is marked | | | | Break into a trot any where on course and your score |
| with a code to reflect how the horse jumped. The | | | | will go down or you will be placed lower. I write |
| fewer the marks the better the score. | | | | 'BROKE' on my sheet to keep track. One horse I |
| Remember that the Hunter Round starts as soon as | | | | judged had a winning round. The rider was enjoying his |
| you get into the ring and ends when you leave so | | | | beautiful canter and he looked up and as he looked up |
| everything that you do in the ring can and will be | | | | his horse broke into trot for two steps! He lost the |
| judged. So if you go into the ring, and immediately pick | | | | class! |
| up a wrong lead, that will be scored. Likewise, if your | | | | Wrong Lead |
| horse balks, or resists, at the in-gate that will also be | | | | Having a wrong lead around the ends of the arena |
| considered as part of your round. | | | | can make the horse unbalanced and they often have |
| I've judged my fair share of hunter rounds. Some were | | | | a bad fence after. Wrong leads will certainly knock |
| wonderful. Some, well, they need help! If you avoid the | | | | you out of the ribbons. I mark "XL" to note horses that |
| following ten things you will most likely be in the ribbons | | | | have wrong leads. |
| every time. | | | | Also a disunited canter "DIS" or cross canter will also |
| Poor Form | | | | lower your placing. |
| A horse should jump with its knees up and square, or | | | | Adding in or Leaving out Strides |
| even. Uneven knees or 'hanging a leg' is reason for not | | | | If you have a four stride line and do it in three strides |
| pinning in a class. A horse is said to 'hang' when the | | | | at mach1 with the second fence HUGE, you have an |
| forearm is in a more vertical position (knee pointing | | | | athletic horse and have the great makings for a |
| toward the ground) as opposed to horizontal position | | | | jumper. You may wan to consider changing disciplines. |
| (knee pointing straight ahead) over a fence. This is | | | | If you leave out strides I mark it with a "[-]". |
| undesirable as a horse that 'hangs' could be dangerous | | | | When you add strides, I mark my judge's sheet with |
| because it may hit the jump with its forearm and | | | | a"[+]" to show that they added. |
| cause a terrible accident. | | | | Missed jump/bad spot. |
| If your horse has good form but has one bad fence | | | | To be considered for placing, particularly in a large |
| where he 'hangs a leg', it could knock you out of the | | | | class, a 'chip' (a short stubby stride just before the |
| ribbons depending on the size of the class and | | | | fence) will ruin your chances. Likewise for an overly |
| severity of the bad jump. | | | | long or reach on take-off. I use the following symbols |
| To improve your horses form over fences you can | | | | for chips "Λ−a"C " or jumps long |
| use gymnastics. This type of training should be under | | | | "∩a"C." |
| the supervision of your trainer or coach. The type of | | | | Uneven Rhythm |
| gymnastic that you use will depend on the jumping | | | | My first reaction to a hunter round should be, "that was |
| form you are trying to treat. Check with your trainer | | | | a nice even round." If I'm holding, white knuckled, onto |
| and develop a systematic training program to cultivate | | | | my chair, chances are you are going too fast or |
| your horse's form. | | | | steadying in the corners and zooming down the lines |
| Refusal and/or Run-out | | | | towards the jumps. |
| To be considered for a placing in a hunter class you | | | | If you are speeding toward the jumps in a rushing |
| must complete all the fences. Having a refusal, | | | | fashion I will mark my page with a "aa" to represent |
| meaning stopping in front of the fence without jumping | | | | speed. |
| it, is a major fault and will be scored as such. A run-out, | | | | Bad/poor Mover |
| when a horse goes past the extended horizontal line | | | | This is a difficult one. So, if you've got to the jumps, |
| of the jump is also a major fault. You must approach | | | | good form, even rhythm, right striding and your correct |
| and jump the fence to complete the course. | | | | lead. That is great, however, if your horse is an |
| A horse must get to each jump and its form over the | | | | average mover up against a pack of superior movers |
| fence is considered. If it cannot get over the fence | | | | of the same jumping ability, the horse with the correct |
| then it is a serious fault. A circle at the beginning of a | | | | form and better movement will place higher. |
| round and a closing circle at the end is permitted | | | | I mark a poor mover with the symbol "↑↓". |
| however, any other circles will be counted as a refusal. | | | | Turnout |
| I use the symbol 'R' on my judge's sheet to note a | | | | The icing on the cake is the turnout. You and your |
| refusal and will not place a horse that has an 'R' unless | | | | horse should present themselves in a clean |
| I really have to. | | | | professional manner according to the specifications of |
| To prevent refusals and run-outs at horse shows, | | | | the class. Braiding is always acceptable and shows off |
| work with your trainer to ensure that you and your | | | | your horse. Tails well prepared and tack shining. A |
| horse are ready for competition. Know the | | | | finished picture with hooves oiled is a pleasure to see. |
| requirements of the level you are showing in and | | | | If there were ties a tie breaker would be turnout. I |
| practice this height of fence at home. It is also helpful | | | | simply write 'lovely turnout' if I think it would make or |
| to have similar types of fences to school over when | | | | break a winning round. |