26 January 2023 - Flipbook - Page 68
68
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 04 2021
IN the absence of competitions at present
and with the winter weather making life
difcult, many horse riders might well be
somewhat lacking in motivation just now.
The majority of us probably need something
to aim for, something to look forward to and
work towards. Maybe there is a discipline
that you haven’t tried yet... This could be an
ideal opportunity for you to nd out more
and prepare yourself and your horse for
when competitions resume.
Horse Week’s Bree Rutledge has always
wanted to have a go at Working Hunter. While
having participated in a few classes, she was
keen to nd out more about the etiquette and
the rules from well-known Working Hunter
competitor, course-builder, judge and HSI
Level 2 coach, Toni Donnelly.
The key to success in
By Toni Donnelly
W
ORKING
Hunter
competition
evolved
from replicating a
day’s hunting. The
inception of Working
Hunter classes
was initiated to
keep the seasoned
hunters ticking over
during the Summer
months, while on
their holidays from
the hunting eld.
Hence keeping the
hunters in work,
tackling a course
of natural coloured
obstacles over
unlevelled terrain to
mimic a normal day
of hunting. Not only
did it spark friendly
rivalry between
hunts and their
members, it also
kept their valued
hunters semi-t and
ready for action
when Cubbing
commenced in
August.
For many riders,
Working Hunter is
the best of both
disciplines - the
precision of showing
combined with
the excitement
of jumping. Often
deemed to be more
for the brave than
the handsome
equines, this
competition is the
closest you’ll get
to eventing in an
enclosed arena!
Riders tackle a
round of natural
jumps and are
then put through
their paces on the
at; animals are
ridden by the judge
and conformation
is scrutinsed for
hunting suitability,
thus making it a
versatile test of a
horse’s performance.
The ponies
versatility is tested
equally as much, but
obviously are not
ridden by the judge,
other than in some
M &M championship
classes.
PHASES
Working Hunter
is divided into four
phases with specic
score weightings.
For horses - see
Table 1.
For ponies - see
Table 2.
In the event of a
tie in marks, the
conformation mark
will take precedence,
followed by the ride
mark, followed by
the style mark.
YOUNG HORSE: Toni and ‘Majestical Foxy’, a home-bred out of
‘Majestic Gold’, going clear in a young horse class at Balmoral. This
mare boasts wins in numerous Novice Working Hunter classes following in her mum’s footsteps! (FW04-526NN)
HOYS: Toni and ‘Majestic Gold’ competing at
the Horse Of The Year Show (HOYS). Together
they claimed the National Working Hunter
Champion title, with numerous placings at the
RDS, Balmoral and qualified for HOYS in 2004,
2005 and 2006 and the Royal International
finals. (FW04-523NN)
Phase 1 Jumping
There should be
a minimum of eight
and a maximum of
12 fences in number
and a maximum
height at the
discretion of the
judges, according
to the competition
schedule. Working
Hunter courses are
not to be walked
by competitors
until the judge has
given permission.
Fences should have a
natural appearance
and not easily
dislodged.
The course will
contain all types of
fences and course
builders like to
ACTION: Toni and ‘O’Jaspers Girl’ (owned by Catherine Donnelly) in
action at the RDS. This pair were placed at the RDS and Balmoral, with
numerous national wins and went to HOYS in 2012. (FW04-524NN)
TABLE 1: Table showing the scoring system for Working Hunter Horse
classes. (FW04-533NN)
throw in a few
spooky fences to
create a challenge
and an interesting
course. Courses will
be predominantly
made up of rustic
fences, skinnies,
hanging gates, bush
llers, water trays,
planks. Often tracks
can also include
stone walls, banks,
bullnches, ditches
and water splashes
- all obstacles one
would tackle out
hunting.
Therefore, it is
recommended to
spend time getting
animals schooled
over cross-country
courses, but in a
controlled Working
Hunter rhythm, as
manner of going is
always taken into
account; refusals are
severely penalised.
Schooling on all
types of surfaces
should be part
of your training
programme and the
use of studs ought
to be a regular
practise, not just for
competition.
Judges are keen to
see a smooth round,
with the animal
moving forward at
all times, in a good
hunting pace - not a
show jumping style,
where the animal
is often shortened
or checked before
a fence. Any
interruption of the
rhythm, using trot to
change canter leads
is heavily ned in the
scores for this phase
(style and presence).
The combination
should be able to
correct this for
themselves over the
fences to maintain
the correct balance
and impulsion to
sustain a good
rhythm, displaying
a free owing round.
Therefore, coming
to a fence on the
wrong canter lead
is permissible remember, if you
were out hunting,
you would be riding
on at a fence from
either canter lead.
Penalties:
Knockdown 10;
First Refusal 15;
Second Refusal 20;
Third Refusal or fall
of rider - elimination
is incurred.
On completion of
the jumping phase,
ALL CLEAR ROUNDS
and any other
animals the judges
may require should
be asked to return to
the ring.
consecutively in
Novice classes.
- Always be polite
to the stewards, be
on time and know
your number for the
judge.
- No change
of rider or tack
will be allowed
between phases
and elimination can
occur if this done.
- A rider can ride
up to two animals in
the jumping phase,
but then must select
only one animal to
take forward into
the conformation
section, if so
required (no change
of rider is allowed).
- No hind boots
or bandages of any
description are
permitted.
- Any animal
displaying continued
disobedience or
animals leaving
the ring, whether
mounted or
dismounted, will be
eliminated and asked
to leave the ring by
the ring steward.
- Know the
acceptable bits for
the grade of class
entered. In pony
classes, no spurs
are tolerated. No
facial jewellery is
permissible.
General tips to
remember
- Animal cannot
compete in Novice
and Open classes on
the same day, and a
horse should move
up grades if placed
rst or second
Phase 2
Once the jumping
phase is completed,
the highest scores
will be called back
into the ring. The
stewards will put
the riders through
their paces as a
TABLE 2: Table showing the scoring system for Working Hunter Pony
classes. (FW04-534NN)
group. Starting with
walk, trot and canter
on the right rein,
before changing
the rein across the
arena, where the
same exercise is
completed before
being asked to
gallop. The riders
are then selected
by the judges in
order of merit
to be presented
for the ride and
conformation
phase. At this
point, the grooms
are permitted to
enter the arena and
assist the riders in
stripping the horses
and preparing them
for the conformation
stage.
If two judges are
working in the ring,
the line-up may be
divided with one
judge riding horses
at the start of the
line and the other
judge commending
the conformation
presentation. It is
advisable to get your
animal prepped
for this phase and
comfortable with
strangers riding it. It
must walk and trot
in hand with ease,
yet display manners
and presence when
under the eye of the
judge.
General tips to
remember
- Remove any front
boots.
- Keep alert, listen
and watch the
stewards’ directions.
- Learn to get
your space, use the
outside track and get
your animal settled.
- In this phase,
always give room
and respect to other
riders in the ring.
- Don’t cut up other
riders and circle or
block the view of the
judges.
- In the gallop,
don’t over push
and encourage your
animal to buck, as
this is frown upon
and you can lose
your placing.
- Your groom
should be dressed
smartly, wearing
a hat and have a
grooming bag with
only the essentials.
- When all riders
are dismounted
in the line-up, it is
considered illmannered to mount
until all competitors
are ready to be
legged back up, after
being assessed by
the panel of judges.
- In some
circumstances, an
individual show
may be expected.
All riders should
have a simple
show rehearsed,
demonstrating all
paces, with clean
changes for the
judge when asked.
Always listen to the
judges commands,
as often exact show
displays are voiced,
if not already stated
in the schedule. A
good example is that
of the WHP (Working
Hunter Pony) class
for the RUAS.
What the judge is
looking for in order
to place the animals
A good judge will
be looking at the
animals presented
in front of them in
the competition and
thinking ‘would I like
to sit on this animal
all day out hunting?’.
Will it jump
bravely,
economically and
safely over any
country all day, with
ease and manners?
Is it a true hunting
model, t enough,
complemented
with enough
bone and correct
conformation to
withstand a season
hunting?
Some horses
may have scars or
blemishes from
the hunting eld.
A good judge will
know the differences
between a blemish
and a conformation
defect - blemishes
are visible
deformities in a
horse’s appearance;
a bump, a scar
(splint), that don’t
impact movement or
performance.
In WHP classes,
the judge should
always ask the age
of the rider and
pony, taking this
into consideration
when judging the
combination in all
phases. Ideally, a
winning WHP should
demonstrate talents
that are appreciated
in the hunting eld.
Would this pony be
safe enough to allow
their child out on for
a day’s fun?
