Judging Hunter Under Saddle 1 Hunter Under Saddle

Judging Hunter Under Saddle 1

Hunter Under Saddle l l l A popular show event Used to be called • Bridle Path Hack • English Pleasure Similar to Western Pleasure ONLY in that the horses should be a pleasure to ride 2

Hunter Under Saddle l SUITABLE to purpose l Preliminary class for English riding disciplines • follow hounds cross country 3

Hunter Under Saddle l l Contestants compete simultaneously Travel around the perimeter of the arena Walk, trot and canter Both directions of the arena. 4

Criteria used to evaluate performance horses l l Functional correctness Quality of movement Attitude and Manners Head set and Head carriage 5

Functional correctness l l l Follows the rules! Horse picks up and maintains proper gait Each gait is correct and true Proper upward and downward transitions Maintaining a proper rate of speed Soundness 6

Quality of Movement l l Gaits must be performed with proper cadence and balance Softness Horse maintains a level top line Horse maintains a collected frame 7

Attitude and Manners l l l Ask the question: Which horse is the steadiest, brokest, most consistent horse in the class? Attitude and temperament Prompt response with no resistance 8

Head set and Head carriage l l Must be in front of the vertical Must be level with the withers 9

A good hunter… • Long, low strides • reaches forward smoothly • lengthens • relaxed, free-flowing movement • correctness in gaits • cadence 10

A good hunter… l l obedient bright expression alert ears responsive to light hand/leg contact 11

A good hunter… l l responsive and smooth in transitions extend in same flowing motion poll level with or slightly above withers face slightly in front of or on the vertical 12

Terminology: the Walk l l l Natural, flat footed, four beat gait Moves straight and true at walk Alert Stride of reasonable length in keeping with size of horse LOSS OF FORWARD RHYTMIC MOVEMENT SHALL BE PENALIZED 13

Terminology: the Trot l Two beat gait • long • low • ground covering • cadenced • balanced 14

Terminology: the Trot l l l Smoothness is more essential than speed Knees should remain relatively flat knees exhibit minimal flexion SHORT, QUICK STRIDES AND EXTREME SPEED SHALL BE PENALIZED definite lengthening during extension 15

Terminology: the Canter l Three beat gait • smooth • free moving • relaxed • straight • long • low • ground covering 16

Terminology: the Hand Gallop l l definite lengthening of the stride noticeable difference in speed horse under control hand gallop to halt in smooth, balanced manner 17

Faults to be scored according to severity l l Quick, short, vertical strides Wrong lead Wrong diagonal Breaking gait 18

Faults to be scored according to severity l l l Excessive speed Excessive slowness Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for 19

Faults to be scored according to severity l l Head carried too high Head carried too low Over-flexing, straining neck with nose behind vertical Excessive nosing out 20

Faults to be scored according to severity l l Failure to maintain light contact with horse’s mouth Stumbling Sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn, overly tired Tail: excessive movement/dead “tail” 21