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Showing Guide Index |
What Happens in a Typical Hunter Class and Tips and Tricks of the Trade on how to Succeed in Them.
By Cait Jenkins
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Over Fences
When you feel you are ready to enter the ring or even before that (to avoid waiting) submit your number to the gate keeper. He or she should call your number when it’s your turn. Make sure you know the course cold. All it is doing is wasting money when you go off course and are eliminated. Don’t worry. We all go off course once in a while, but it is best to avoid it whenever you possibly can. When you enter the ring pick up the trot and begin your circle at one end of the ring. About one quarter through your circle pick up the canter and get your pace. Don’t make a small circle! It is quite all right to go around jumps to make your circle bigger. The reason for this is so you have plenty of time to establish a proper pace that will suit the course so you are not changing speeds all throughout the time you are in the ring. Judges do look for consistency. When you have come to the completion of your circle you should be cantering with good pace (speed) and on the correct lead heading for your first fence. Look to the fence as you make the turn to the jump. If the second fence is around the corner and headed in the opposite direction don’t look to it immediately after the fence you have just jumped. Give yourself a stride or so to make sure you are organized with rein length, balance, and on the correct lead. Then look to your next fence. After you have completed the course make a finishing circle. This circle doesn’t have to be as big as your first. About one quarter around the circle break to the trot. Keep trotting until about four strides before you exit through the gate, at which time you will come down to the walk. Usually over fences classes will be run back-to-back, which means this:
You or somebody else goes in the ring and completes the course. When he or she comes out you will go in and complete your first round, or first course/class. When you come out the person that just went in before you will go in the ring and do their second course. Then you go in and do your second course, and so forth. That is back-to-back. It is usually done in twos, but it is not uncommon with an uneven number for it to be done in threes.
O/F TIPS: Always enter the ring confident. Even if you’re not, look
confident. This will make you feel at least a little more confident.
Try not to be nervous. I know fully well this is a lot to ask of anybody
who is less than very familiar with the show ring, but having a positive
attitude will effect your horse for the better.
When you have a good round give your horse a pat as you complete your
final circle. Don’t goo-goo at him and shout lovingly, "OHHHH! WHAT A
GOOD PONY!". That’s a little unreasonable, so save it for outside of the
ring. However a good pat on the neck seems to impress the judge for some
reason. I don’t know why, but they like seeing it. That won’t mean just
because you pat your horse means that you’ll win every time. Come on.
U/S TIPS: Do not slouch. Ever. You are trying to make a pretty picture and
a good impression, and slouching makes it all untidy and almost ugly.
You might be waiting in line in the ring for an incredible amount of
time and you might be bored out of your tree and all you want to do is
go home and soak in a hot bubble bath, but still don’t slouch. You don’t
have to be stiff as a board and jammed yourself into the perfect, but
uncomfortable position, but stay forward on the saddle and keep your
shoulders back and back flat.
Despite what people might tell you, if the judge isn’t absent he or she
is watching you enter the ring and is judging you even before the
announcer says, "All walk. You are now being judged.". When you enter
the ring break into the trot and show yourself off. The first impression
is always the most important.
Hopes this gives you some help! Enjoy your showing!
Get real, but everybody likes to see a rider publicly praise their
animal for a job well done.
When you fall off (which does happen to the best of us) retain your
dignity. (I really shouldn’t have to tell anybody this, but I have seen
it happen, unfortunately.) Don’t get up and scream or kick dirt or in
anyway get hysterical. It’s unprofessional. (Crying is different. It’s
OK to cry as long as you’re not really losing it with your horse.) Even
outside the ring don’t cuss or throw a nit fit. Temper tantrums are not
acceptable. People won’t like you anymore if you do. When you’ve
fallen, if you can, get back on and calmly walk out of the ring. If
you’re seriously hurt DON’T MOVE! The paramedics will be there to help
you.
Under Saddle
An under saddle class (sometimes known as a flat class) is run with
everybody in the ring at the same time. Unless it is a hack class there
will be no jumping. (Hack classes usually have you jump two fences.)
Enter the ring at a walk and track to the left. Once you are in the ring
find a good open spot. The ring master will come out and at the judge’s
signal will tell you to walk, trot or canter (if the canter is aloud in
the class). Do as he/she says unless you know unquestionably that
whatever the judge is telling you is illegal for that particular class.
The riders will show their horses at all gaits required for the class
in both directions. Then when the judge calls, go into the center of the
ring and line up side by side with your back to the judge. Make sure the
judge can see your number. Ribbons will then be handed out and you will
exit the ring. Stay in the ring until all the ribbons are handed out.
If you can, be the first to enter the ring in an under saddle class.
You tend to get the better spots and the judge gets a better over all
first impression.
Find a good spot. I’ve seen so many people get trapped in little clumps
of horses around the ring. When that happens it is likely that you will
be forced into the ring railing, into a jump, or (worst possible
scenario) into another horse’s rear end, which is really really scary
when you realize that horse has a red ribbon tied to his tail.
Another trick of the trade is to put your horse in with certain types
of movers. If your horse has beautiful movement and there are other
horses in the class with good movement, try to find a spot between two
not so good movers. It enhances how well your horse is moving. Same
thing if you have a not so great moving horse. Don’t go and find a spot
between the best moving horses in the class because it will make your
fair mover look worse.
Don’t do anything drastic in front of the judge unless it is completely
necessary. Keep your eye on the judge and when he/she isn’t watching
you, then make your adjustments. Another reason for keeping your eye on
the judge (I mean, don’t stare, but just out of the corner of your eye
know where he/she is looking) is to make sure he or she has seen you. If
he hasn’t, find an open spot on the opposite side of the ring and make a
circle right in front of the judge to make sure he or she takes notice.
I remember I had one of the most beautiful under saddle classes ever and
I had one of the best movers in the class, but I didn’t get pinned
because she didn’t see me. It’s frustrating when that happens.
Be aware of the horses around you. If you find you have gotten in
behind a spooky horse or just one that’s misbehaving, don’t stay there!
When one horse acts up the next will surely follow.
Make your revolutions around the ring in an oval or circle. Meaning if
there are fences on the rail and you have to track to the inside of them
when you get past the last fence don’t move back onto the rail and make
your track in a funny peanut shape. The reason for this being especially
at the canter is that when you make the turn to the rail you are turning
in the opposite direction and your horse is a lot more likely to switch
leads on you.