26 January 2023 - Flipbook - Page 69
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 04 2021
Working Hunter ring
The ideal Working
Hunter Pony has
plenty of bone and
substance, coupled
with good movement
and courageous
jumping style, yet
has manners to
burn.
All the above facts
assist the judges
to give their nal
decision based on
the marks awarded
to the animals
during all phases.
The rst six
riders will be
called forward and
usually called out
in reverse order,
to add an element
of excitement for
all involved. First
and second prize
winners are obliged
to go forward to the
overall concluding
Working Hunter
Championship; their
prize money can be
withheld if they fail
to show. All scores
are documented and
can be obtained after
all competitions.
Horses for courses
With the growth
in Working Hunter
Horse class
popularity, came
the introduction of
fence height classes
at regular shows. At
County level shows,
classes are divided
into categories:
Small Hunter,
Novice/ Young Horse
classes 90cm and
Open 1m upwards.
The fence height will
always be stated on
schedules. Small
Hunters and Cobs
will jump a course of
rustic style fences,
with jump height
between 80cm and
90cm.
Royal Shows have
aged or weighted
classes (Light,
Middle and Heavy
weight hunters) for
Working Hunter
horses, with set
jumping heights for
these classes and
riders must be 16
years of age and
above.
It is also important
to note that a
pony up to 153cm
should not be seen
competing in both
pony and horse
ridden or Working
Hunter classes on
the same day. A
rider must be over
16 years of age
to participate in
all horse showing
classes.
Classes and pony
heights
In modern times,
WHP classes have
become more childfriendly, introducing
classes from 60cm
up to 1.10m to
accommodate all
ON FORM: Toni and ‘GBF Basil’ competing at Balmoral. They secured
numerous national wins in Working Hunter and Middle Weight Hunter
classes, including at Balmoral and the RDS. (FW04-525NN)
COACHING: Toni giving a few tips to one of
her clients before a Working Hunter class - a
regular sight at shows. (FW04-532NN)
sizes of ponies and
ages of young riders
and give them an
opportunity to
experience and enjoy
Working Hunter.
However, at the
more serious level
of competition, pony
heights must be
recorded on their
passports, as this
will be checked
and riders must
adhere to set age
boundaries. The
normal classes for
all County Shows
and Royal Shows are
listed below (Table
3).
Working Hunter is a
real fun competition
once the competitor,
parents and helpers
are familiar with all
the phases - the best
place to learn is to
spend a day at the
side of the ring, with
a picnic, watching all
aspects and different
classes!
Dress to impress
Rider dress
for all hunter
classes includes
a tweed jacket;
base your tweed
colour decision
on the colour of
the animals. For
example, a dun pony
and a brown tweed
will blend well, while
a dark grey pony and
a green tweed jacket
will match.
Riders should wear
tan coloured gloves;
a navy or black
approved standard
of riding hat;
cream, canary or
beige breeches and
a cream shirt with a
tie (and tie pin). No
stocks of any colour
should be worn.
Long hair should
be neat and tidy, in
a net, ponytail or
bun. I would advise
against ribbons and
bows.
The move to
wearing long
boots for pony
riders is becoming
increasingly popular
and is down to
personal choice.
However, wearing of
body protectors is
compulsory for pony
competitors and
often a written prerequisite in the adult
performance classes
in the rules of some
shows too.
Animals should
be plaited and well
groomed - tack and
turnout is essential
for all competitors.
There is no
point doing your
homework unless
you go to school in
the uniform!
The nal salute
Working Hunter
classes are a great
foundation stone
for many children’s
riding careers.
The different
phases give riders
VARIETY OF FENCES: Toni and ‘GBF Basil’ on their way to winning
the Working Hunter Championship at Oldcastle Show. Included are a
number of examples of Working Hunter fences. (FW04-527NN)
experience and skill
in jumping all sorts
of technical and
challenging tracks
(a pre-requisite
for show jumping
and eventing). The
control, obedience
and showing
etiquettes of the
at phase are
good tuition for
the dressage ring.
The in-hand phase
should never be
underestimated -
this phase often
makes the difference
between winning
or losing the class
and equates to
presenting animals
for future buyers in
the sales ring.
For anyone
interested in
Working Hunter and
keen to give it a go
with the assistance
of a coach, please
contact Toni on
07764 786500 or via
Facebook to arrange
a lesson at White
Cottage Stables,
Sainteld, Co. Down
or to nd out where
and when her clinics
are happening.
No doubt once
lockdown is lifted
and equine activities
are given the
green light, there
will be unlimited
opportunities to get
out and give Working
Hunter a try!
TABLE 3: Table showing pony class details for County and Royal Shows. (FW04-535NN)
69
Success for inaugural
NEF webinar
THE National Equine Forum’s (NEF) rst
special interest webinar ‘Just in Time - Using
Science to Save our Breeds’, held recently,
captured the attention of more than 160
delegates from around the world, and
generated some fascinating questions for the
panel of internationally renowned speakers.
A summary of the webinar will be given at
#NEF21.
Chaired by Professor Tim Morris, the
webinar was delivered by industry leaders
and highlighted the challenges our equine
breeds face, and how, through science there
is hope for the future.
Tullis Matson, Founder and Managing
Director of Stallion AI Services, opened
the session with a fascinating look at how
the extinction vortex has impacted the
natural world and its application to equine
breeds. Simon Cooper, Director, The General
Studbook, Weatherbys, continued with a close
look at the challenging situation of inbreeding
in Thoroughbreds.
Paul Flynn, Head of Research and
Development, Weatherbys Scientic, went
on to explain the role of DNA analysis in
providing breed societies and breeders
with keystone support to guide decisions to
increase effective populations. Dr Andy Dell,
Trustee and Member of the Breed Committee,
Cleveland Bay Horse Society, concluded the
presentations with a case study giving proof
of the concept that breeds in decline have
a chance to be saved when genomics and
kinship analysis are utilised.
Bonus content from the ‘Just in Time Using Science to Save our Breeds’ webinar,
in the form of answers from the panellists to
additional questions asked during the session,
will be available in the next couple of weeks.
Check out NEF’s social media channels to nd
out when it will be available or sign up to their
mailing list at www.nationalequineforum.com.
The second NEF special interest webinar,
entitled ‘The Great Weight Debate’ (equine)
has since been held on Wednesday, January
27. Chaired by Professor Pat Harris, it took
a practical look at different perspectives on
equine weight management, from across the
equestrian sector, including the views of a
horse owner, livery yard owner and coach,
an equine welfare ofcer, an equine vet, a
nutritionist and a competition judge.
The panel of speakers aimed to identify what
is preventing owners/ carers from managing
horse, pony and donkey weight effectively,
despite many previous and ongoing attempts
from industry to effect change. They will also
explore how any obstacles may be overcome
and the discussions will be supported by
a human behaviour change researcher.
Conclusions and possible pathways for
change will be presented at #NEF21.
Information is available on the website at
www.nationalequineforum.com, and tickets
are available from Eventbrite at www.
eventbrite.co.uk.
The 29th National Equine Forum will be
held virtually on Thursday, March 4. Tickets
will be available in February. If you would like
to receive notication of their availability,
please subscribe to the mailing list at www.
nationalequineforum.com.
Thanks are extended to those supporting
‘Just in Time - Using Science to Save our
Breeds’:
- SPONSORS: The British Horse Society; The
Horse Trust;
- CORPORATE FRIENDS: Weatherbys
Scientic; World Horse Welfare;
- FRIENDS: The 826 Studbooks Association;
Central Prex Register; Cob Care; Exmoor
Pony Society; Neue Schule; James Rayner;
Traditional Gypsy Cob Association.
Thanks are extended to those supporting
The Great Weight Debate (Equine):
- SPONSORS: The British Horse Society;
Redwings Horse Sanctuary; SPILLERS™; Talk
Equine; World Horse Welfare;
- CORPORATE FRIENDS: Jeffress Scholarship
Trust;
- FRIENDS: Central Prex Register; Sue
Dyson; Neue Schule; James Rayner.
SAVE OUR
BREEDS: The
first rare breed
foal born from
sexed semen
in 2020, a
Suffolk Punch.
(FW04-522NN)
PICTURE:
courtesy of
Horsepower
Creative
