How to Compete in Hunter Hack

Hunter hack is the transitional English class between the flat riding class with no jumps (hunter under saddle) and the class with tall jumps (working hunter).

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• English Riding Jacket
• Light-colored Shirts
• English Reins
• English Saddle
• Breeches
• Headstalls
• Leather Riding Gloves
• Riding Boots
• Riding Helmets
• Snaffle Bit

1. Choose a horse that moves well, rides English, and has a long, elegant stride.

2. Tack up your horse with English saddle and tack. It's required for this event.

3. Wear a dark jacket with a light-colored shirt, a riding helmet with light-colored breeches, tall, dark leather riding boots, spurs and a riding crop.

4. Enter the arena when instructed according to your order in the class. Riders compete individually.

5. Hold your hands just above the withers and slightly apart, with your knuckles rotated 30 degrees inside the vertical. There should be a straight line from the horse's mouth to the rider's elbow.

6. Flex your ankles, keep your heels down, and maintain contact with the horse through your calves. Keep your legs slightly behind the girth.

7. Follow the pattern. Riders compete in a specific and required pattern.

8. Jump your horse. Horses are required to jump two fences ranging in height from 2 feet to 2 feet, 9 inches. Horse should move freely and easily while jumping small fences.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear a helmet.
• Use caution when jumping.

[MDBT]

on 9/16/2008 You can't lunge a horse over jumps that have standards. Instead, if you have a spooky horse, be sure the rider keeps their eyes up and leg closed on the horse to support the nervous horse over the jump. You should only jump with the help and supervision of a qualified trainer.

on 7/4/2006 Don't go up into jumping position until it is time to jump. Otherwise, you are cuing your horse too early and confusing him! This could cause an accident or a bad jump. If you have a horse that spooks a lot, take the horse over the jumps before the class to get him use to it! Put him on a lunge line and lunge him over them, that way you know how he is going to react to the jumps, and how you are going to respond!

on 2/10/2006 If your horse doesn't go well on a loose contact, lower his frame and put him on the bit. This will help him be more responsive, have a better, rounder gait and look easier to ride. I ride a 5 year old, super sensitive TB who always breaks on a loose contact, so this works wonders for us.

on 11/22/2005 When you are in an hunter class of any sort, make sure to relax and look like the horse you are riding is a joy to ride. Keep as little contact with the horse as possible. If you are pulling on his mouth, the judge will think he is hard to ride and no fun. So just relax!