Page 14 midwest horse digest February 09
Want to Win:
Hunt Seat Pleasure
confused trying to place the class but a well corner of the ring where I can see most of the
educated Judge will be able to assess each class. (A good Judge can hear and feel the
horse individually and against its particular horses moving behind them.) My notepad is
breed standards. divided into three sections; great / average /
Class Rules: “Horses should be poor. Throughout the class, I make a note of
obedient, alert, responsive, and move any problems with manners or obedience. By
by: Jennifer Lindgren ©2009
freely. Light contact with the horses mouth the time I ask for the reverse, I have the class
is required (USEF.org, Rule HU 128).” broken down into these sections. I continue to
I love to judge Hunt Seat pleasure
All Hunters must be ‘serviceably sound’ watch the entire class but I focus my eye on
at Open shows. Unlike western rail classes
and display manners, performance, quality, comparing the quality of movement between
where everybody strives to replicate the slow
and conformation, in keeping with the Hunter the top horses. Sometimes the top horses will
moving, easy going stock type ideal, Hunter
style. Some Breed organizations may commit a major fault (wrong lead, unruly
classes encourage diversity. Because of the
stipulate more specific requirements in their behavior) and get dropped down in placing,
flexibility in this division, different breeds of
class descriptions but USEF, as the governing allowing the average horses to move forward
horses and riders at various skill levels are all
body for Hunters, should be used as reference on the card.
able to compete in the same class. I recently
during All-breed competitions. All classes The first thing I notice is a horse’s
judged a class that
will require the frame or how he carries himself from his head
included a retired
walk, trot, to his hocks. A Hunter’s frame can vary
Thoroughbred race
canter, depending upon the conformation, breed, size,
horse, several
halt, and and style of the horse. No matter the horse, the
Quarter Horses,
back. Upon following rules do apply. The neck should
two hunter ponies,
halting, alll move out comfortably from the shoulder, never
three Arabians, two
horses dropping below the withers. The head should
Saddle-breds,two
should be carried in front of or at the ‘vertical’ and
Warmbloods and
a Draft cross.
It was a beautiful
display of athleti-
cism and skill from
horses ranging in
height from 13
hands to 17 hands.
While each breed
displayed unique
characteristics as a
Hunter, the umbrel-
la of class specifi-
cations that Judges
A clean, polished appearance is a must in all
use in Hunter pleasure,
Hunter classes. Notice how the neck moves
Hunter under Saddle, out straight from the shoulder and the head is
and Hunter hack,
slightly in front of the vertical on this AQHA
allowed all these horses
Hunter. The reins keep light contact with the bit.
to be judged fairly,
Photo: Carrie Huff.
under the same
standards, but as individuals.
stand quietly, on a
How you place in this class at an
loosened rein. The extend-
Head and neck carriage will depend on both the horse’s
Open show will depend upon both your horse’s
ed trot and hand-gallop may
body type and Breed. Here, Bomb Bey Indian (NSH and
quality of movement and the Judge.
also be called. Proper exten- Arabian) poses after winning an Open Hunter Class. His
Depending upon their background and
sions include both an increase
beautifully braided mane and tail perfects the ‘Hunter
training, your Judge will probably prefer one
in the length of stride and the
Look’. Photo: Elizabeth DeSarle.
style of presentation over the others. Stock
speed of the gait. I rarely ask for
type Judges (quarter horse, color breed) prefer
extensions in classes with young riders or in never fall behind the vertical. Horses that
the neck to reach straight out from the shoul-
arenas with poor footing. display either Western style or Saddle Seat
der and the movement to be long, smooth, and
How the Judge sees it: Because style carriage should be severely penalized.
flat. Hunter/Jumper Judges prefer the neck to
of the size of Hunter classes, most Judges The back should be supple and the hocks
rise out of the shoulder with the horse looking
develop a personal system to analyze the engaged. Next, I assess the quality of
ahead. They expect the horse to show
class efficiently and fairly. Here is some insight movement. Hunters should display an unhur-
impulsion and drive. Society horse Judges
into how I handle a large class. I watch every ried, smooth and balanced, ground covering
(Arabians, Saddlebreds, NSH’s, and Morgans)
horse come through the gate. If there are 25 stride. I like a lot of impulsion and drive from
prefer their horse’s more ‘bridled’ with a
horses in the class, I honestly only have a few the rear paired with a free, active shoulder.
marked arch in the neck, and head only
seconds to watch your entrance. Make it great! Excessive knee action or shoulder lift is
slightly in front of the vertical. You might get
After the gate is closed, I position myself in a penalized.
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