Hunter show?

Question

Can someone please give me the step by step preparation for a hunter show. How to groom, what tack, what to do the day before and the day of the show, etc.

Also, what happens on the day of the show....how to enter the ring, what to expect from other participants, judges, warmup, etc.

I would really like a full account of such an event, thanks so much in advance!

Answer 1

I have a booklet I wrote up years ago, for my students, that detailed everything you want to know - unfortunately, its about a dozen pages long, so I can't retype it here. Perhaps you could break your question down a bit?

Answer 2

I no how u felt! I was a nervous wreck when i first did hunter showing, but it turned out just fine!!

For grooming, your horse has to look like it is worth a million bucks these days. Really what that means is have them on a really good feeding program, deworming program, and of course to be groomed every day! All these thing will result to a beautiful glowing horse. Also make sure you clip their bridle path!! I would usually bathe my horse before the show, and braid her mane and tail (if you dont kow how to do so go on any horse website really and look it up). then i would put a light blanket on and a slinky, then put them up for the night.

Then it so happens its your turn to get the rest of it ready! Tack you would need is an english/hunt type saddle (w/ pad), english bridle, and if you want wraps for the legs. All of this tack can be found at a tack shop. If you would need help, ask a store manager. Also the day before I usually clean all my tack and close. And dont forget to make your bit nice and shinny!! I also check to make sure i have everything ready to go. Then i load the tack in the trailer.

The day OF the show I groom my horses coat and put a spray on the make them shine (read the directions, beacuse i wonce put on a spray that made my saddle slid every where!!)

When you enter a huntseat not to jump, enter sitting up straight, hands in front of you pomel, heels down, and a happy look on your face. Your horse should be moving swiftly off your cues, with a nice head collection. You two should look like one together. Really remember that the judge looks for first impressions!! The speed you enter desides what ever the judge asks for. Dont even worry a bit about the other riders, just focous on you and stay on the rail.

The judges look for: RIDER

-hands, to see if they are still, and in place.

-legs, steady and also in place

-seat, not bouncy, but moves with horse

-face, happy and looking forward

-body, sitting straight in the saddle

HORSE:

-smoothness, and long strides

-nice head collection

-has a long stride at the trot

-listens to riders cues

-moves swiftly(without hesatation) into new transition

For warmup I usually walk two rounds, then trot two rounds, and then canter. I really pay attention to my seat and how the horse carries its self. Do bending work and so on. It is always nice to have someone on the side ring to tell you if you are slouching, or sitting up nicley, ect. Or to see if your horse is moving nicley with you.

Practice really hard, and you will have great results!!!

I did and now i am a huntseat champion with my horse cupid.

I wish you luck!!!

Answer 3

FYI- the answers you will get will all probably be more summarized than what you want- you're asking quite a bit.

Considering that,

1. Grooming- use everything in your box. Curry, shedding blade, hard/soft brush, combs, polishing rags, hoof picks/polish, fly spray, show sheen. If it's a really nice show, you'll need to braid or pay someone to do it for you. Your horse needs to look its absolute best.

2. Tack- I like to clean my tack the night before the show-it's calming and it's the last possible second, so it can't really get dirty before you show. Use a nice basic bridle for hunters- no martingales/special nosebands and using a basic snaffle is best. Other than that, you only need your saddle and the white shaped saddle pad and a girth. Your pad/girth need to be washed and clean. Don't use jumping boots.

3. Day before- if it's an away show, you'll want to let your horse get used to the grounds, and maybe school them. If it's an at-home show, maybe just hop on and hack. As I already said, cleaning your tack and tall boots is a good thing to do. Braiding needs to be done the night before or way early in the morning.

4. Day of- get there at least an hour early. That gives you time to groom, tack up, prep yourself, warm up, and shake off your nerves. Make sure that you and your horse look as pristine as possible- wear gloves, tuck your hair into your helment and use a hairnet, no loose straps anywhere.

5. Entering the ring- for your flat classes, just go in at a walk and the judges will tell you what they want. For over fences, enter the direction you need to to start your opening circle at a walk, then upward transition to trot and then canter.

6. Other participants- basically, you'll never know. They could be jerks and cut you off on purpose during flat classes or they could be extraordinarily nice and offer to help you mount and antsy horse (I've had that happen- the guy was really nice). Be cautious, but open, and be prepared to deal with your horse being run over, etc. Also- the warmup ring is chaos. Keep an eye out for other horses, esp. those with red ribbons in their tails- they're kickers. Listen for people calling fences and move out of their way. Riders on faster gaits go to the inside. Everyone warms up in the same direction- don't enter the ring and track left if everyone is going right. If you must turn around, follow the left to left rule (left shoulders pass each others).

7. Having a family member/friend there is nice. They can bring you water, give you time updates, listen for ribbon announcements, and just be a good support system.

Answer 4

Well for grooming Make sure your horse is clean and shiney ( preferably a bath the day before ) The horses mane and tail is in braids and the wiskers and gaurd hairs under the face are clipped. fetlocks are cliped and if they have white socks wash the socks and keep them clean and white white white!  

Tack. Make sure all your tack is clean! saddles and bridles should be clean and free of dust and grime. At the show clean your tack after each time you ride in it so its clean the next time u ride in it. and when hacking dont use the pad that you want to show in because it will get dirty. Make sure your show pad is clean and free of visable smuges.

Warmup- remeber to always watch where you are going, and make sure you know the shows hacking rules. dont cut people off and if they start getting huffy because your not %100 just tell them its ur first show. Other particapants can get rude so just relax and dont take to much personally .

When you enter the show ring to show I know many people do the "circle" before going to there first jump. DONT! judges like to see you walk in pick up the canter and go to the first jump espesually if its a handy hunter class. Do the hunter circle after thoe. then exit the ring promptly. do not stare or look at the judge stay focused on your task at hand.

Good luck

Answer 5

ummm...get a trainer.  Have them take you to a show.  And have them tell you what to do.  Pretty simple.  Why are people asking really dumb questios on here?

Answer 6

since u want step by step

for u i would recommend going to a hunter show with a friend to watch everything