Showcircuit Magazine, Dec 2015/Jan 2016, LF Taylor
STYLE TRENDS FOR SHOWHUNTER HOY2016
Just a few years back girls were all riding with their hair in a pony tail hanging down the back. Now you only see hair pulled back into a tidy bun at the base of the helmet with a hairnet controlling any flyaway hair. This is much preferred as it looks tidier and also is safer.
White is a basic colour for a shirt and choker – but any tone that does not clash with your jacket is acceptable. Jacket colours are a big topic of discussion these days as it seems sky is the limit on choice. Navy or dark grey is always correct. Understated is better than flashy.
If you wear spurs, they are best used with properly fitted, leather straps with simple buckles. You don't want to draw attention to them. Same with whips – there are specific rules regarding length etc. but I prefer a simple, shorter crop in a dark shade, with a flat, conservative flap.
A lot people ask me about reins – ie which ones to use. On a snaffle, it's nice to see a braided or lace rein. It is most important to get the right rein width fit for the size hand holding the reins; plus make sure the reins are not too long in the loop as that is a hazard should the rider put his foot through the loop!
Please check your standing martingale is adjusted correctly.You should be able to push it up to the bottom of your horse's throatlatch. Position the yoke so it rests in your horse's mane a few inches in front of his wither, and so the stopper connecting it to the martingale sits in the middle of his chest, just below where his neck and chest meet. Also make sure any strap attached to the girth is not too hanging too low – dangerous! The horse could put a foot through it.
Bridles are pretty glitzy these days with lots of bling; however in the hunter ring we like to see a plain style in leather that matches your saddle. Subtle stitching on the browband and cavesson are acceptable.
A clean, white, fleece, fitted saddle pad, sized and positioned so there's 1 to 11/2 inches of pad showing evenly around your saddle is the best option.
Your girth should be same colour as saddle if possible --fitted so very little (preferably no) elastic shows below the saddle flap.
You are not judged on the colour of your coat or if your bridle matches your saddle etc… but a well presented picture is always a positive first impression with any judge.
UPDATE ON UNDERSADDLE CLASSES FOR SHOWHUNTER HOY2016
Undersaddle (flat) classes are becoming more popular with many areas now regularly running them as either individual events or part of a championship. We will be seeing them at HOY2016. *Remember no martingales allowed in these classes.
Comments from well- known judges regarding what they are looking for in an undersaddle class:
"The purpose of the hunter undersaddle horse/pony is to present or exhibit a horse with a bright, alert expression, whose gaits show potential of being a realistic working hunter. Therefore, its gait must be free flowing, ground covering, and athletic. Hunters should move with long, low strides reaching forward with ease and smoothness; plus be able to lengthen stride and cover ground with relaxed, free-flowing movement, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of movement and consistency of the gaits are a major consideration. In transition, horses / ponies should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and light hand contact. When asked to extend the trot or hand gallop, they should move out with the same flowing motion. The poll should be level with, or slightly above, the withers to allow proper impulsion behind. The head position should be slightly in front of, or on, the vertical."
"It's my belief that Hunter Undersaddle mounts should have the length of stride necessary to make the distance down a jump line. The ideal Hunter Undersaddle horse should track up at the walk and trot while displaying self-carriage and a level topline. At the canter, the animal should be balanced, allowing the horse / pony to have proper engagement, which produces a ground-covering stride indicative of an animal that could, if asked, make the distance between fences, of any height."
"Head carriage and not being too heavy on the forehand are important to me because our horses / ponies need to canter so they can see where they are going, especially when jumping a fence. They need to have enough power from behind being sent forward in front of our leg and into our hand to get the push they need to get from one side of the fence to the other. I like a horse / pony that accepts the hand and leg – without being chased around the arena; because those aids are the communication with the animal to negotiate successfully around a course."
"I would like to see the exhibitors spread out more, just to give the judges a chance to get a good look at all the horses. What happens is they crowd up, and they're not actually showing the judge their horse as much as they think they are. I think riders just need to be more aware, specifically of where they are in the ring."
GOOD PRACTICES FOR SHOWHUNTER HOY2016
Thank the gate people, stewards, office helpers often – they are all volunteers for your sport.
Check your class white boards frequently – rule of thumb is that each round is around 2 minutes but that does not guarantee that the timing will go to that plan.
Learn your courses thoroughly – there could be a single jump at the end of the course that you could miss.
Bring a spare bridle, girth, stirrup leathers etc. with you from home – you never know when you will need them
It is cold at nights at HOY sometimes – bring winter covers – you might need them.
Be aware of warm up ring etiquette! The rule is passing left shoulder to left shoulder; walking horses should leave the rail for the faster movers. Politely call your line on jumps so people know where you are going.
DON'T TURN THEM OUT! SHOWHUNTER EVENTS POST HOY2016
Just a few years back girls were all riding with their hair in a pony tail hanging down the back. Now you only see hair pulled back into a tidy bun at the base of the helmet with a hairnet controlling any flyaway hair. This is much preferred as it looks tidier and also is safer.
White is a basic colour for a shirt and choker – but any tone that does not clash with your jacket is acceptable. Jacket colours are a big topic of discussion these days as it seems sky is the limit on choice. Navy or dark grey is always correct. Understated is better than flashy.
If you wear spurs, they are best used with properly fitted, leather straps with simple buckles. You don't want to draw attention to them. Same with whips – there are specific rules regarding length etc. but I prefer a simple, shorter crop in a dark shade, with a flat, conservative flap.
A lot people ask me about reins – ie which ones to use. On a snaffle, it's nice to see a braided or lace rein. It is most important to get the right rein width fit for the size hand holding the reins; plus make sure the reins are not too long in the loop as that is a hazard should the rider put his foot through the loop!
Please check your standing martingale is adjusted correctly.You should be able to push it up to the bottom of your horse's throatlatch. Position the yoke so it rests in your horse's mane a few inches in front of his wither, and so the stopper connecting it to the martingale sits in the middle of his chest, just below where his neck and chest meet. Also make sure any strap attached to the girth is not too hanging too low – dangerous! The horse could put a foot through it.
Bridles are pretty glitzy these days with lots of bling; however in the hunter ring we like to see a plain style in leather that matches your saddle. Subtle stitching on the browband and cavesson are acceptable.
A clean, white, fleece, fitted saddle pad, sized and positioned so there's 1 to 11/2 inches of pad showing evenly around your saddle is the best option.
Your girth should be same colour as saddle if possible --fitted so very little (preferably no) elastic shows below the saddle flap.
You are not judged on the colour of your coat or if your bridle matches your saddle etc… but a well presented picture is always a positive first impression with any judge.
UPDATE ON UNDERSADDLE CLASSES FOR SHOWHUNTER HOY2016
Undersaddle (flat) classes are becoming more popular with many areas now regularly running them as either individual events or part of a championship. We will be seeing them at HOY2016. *Remember no martingales allowed in these classes.
Comments from well- known judges regarding what they are looking for in an undersaddle class:
"The purpose of the hunter undersaddle horse/pony is to present or exhibit a horse with a bright, alert expression, whose gaits show potential of being a realistic working hunter. Therefore, its gait must be free flowing, ground covering, and athletic. Hunters should move with long, low strides reaching forward with ease and smoothness; plus be able to lengthen stride and cover ground with relaxed, free-flowing movement, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of movement and consistency of the gaits are a major consideration. In transition, horses / ponies should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and light hand contact. When asked to extend the trot or hand gallop, they should move out with the same flowing motion. The poll should be level with, or slightly above, the withers to allow proper impulsion behind. The head position should be slightly in front of, or on, the vertical."
"It's my belief that Hunter Undersaddle mounts should have the length of stride necessary to make the distance down a jump line. The ideal Hunter Undersaddle horse should track up at the walk and trot while displaying self-carriage and a level topline. At the canter, the animal should be balanced, allowing the horse / pony to have proper engagement, which produces a ground-covering stride indicative of an animal that could, if asked, make the distance between fences, of any height."
"Head carriage and not being too heavy on the forehand are important to me because our horses / ponies need to canter so they can see where they are going, especially when jumping a fence. They need to have enough power from behind being sent forward in front of our leg and into our hand to get the push they need to get from one side of the fence to the other. I like a horse / pony that accepts the hand and leg – without being chased around the arena; because those aids are the communication with the animal to negotiate successfully around a course."
"I would like to see the exhibitors spread out more, just to give the judges a chance to get a good look at all the horses. What happens is they crowd up, and they're not actually showing the judge their horse as much as they think they are. I think riders just need to be more aware, specifically of where they are in the ring."
GOOD PRACTICES FOR SHOWHUNTER HOY2016
Thank the gate people, stewards, office helpers often – they are all volunteers for your sport.
Check your class white boards frequently – rule of thumb is that each round is around 2 minutes but that does not guarantee that the timing will go to that plan.
Learn your courses thoroughly – there could be a single jump at the end of the course that you could miss.
Bring a spare bridle, girth, stirrup leathers etc. with you from home – you never know when you will need them
It is cold at nights at HOY sometimes – bring winter covers – you might need them.
Be aware of warm up ring etiquette! The rule is passing left shoulder to left shoulder; walking horses should leave the rail for the faster movers. Politely call your line on jumps so people know where you are going.
DON'T TURN THEM OUT! SHOWHUNTER EVENTS POST HOY2016
- Feilding – 12th-13th March 2016: SH series' classes These points go towards the 2015/16 Show Hunter Series Classes + they are qualifiers for 2017 HOY
- Auckland – 12th-13th March 2016: 2 days of SH series' classes These points go towards the 2015/16 Show Hunter Series Classes + they are qualifiers for 2017 HOY
- NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Waitemata @ Woodhill 25th-27th March 2016: 2 days of SH series classes. These points go towards 2015/16 series + they are qualifiers for 2017 HOY
- SERIES FINALS in Masterton 9th – 10th April 2016: Show Hunter is combining with the Jumpers for this show. This is the Show Hunter Series Final Show; with the finals of all the Show Hunter Series, High Points and Equitation. This show is also a 2017 Horse of the Year Qualifier. Please read carefully the ESNZ Show Hunter Rules and Equitation Series Conditions concerning the Series Final Classes.