What makes a winning hunter round?

Does it seem like a secret to you?

It is annoying when you see someone – who in your opinion – does a poorer round get a better score,

or,

gets a ribbon.

What’s up with that?

Why would a horse that pops the rails in the cups and a sloppy lead change and maybe other misdemeanors pin ahead of a solid steady round.

Sounds easy enough to win a hunter round.

But what do you have to do to win?

I know after judging at shows from local training shows to the rated shows, sometimes people REALLY don’t know what it takes to win a hunter round.

And I have heard about it.

As a judge and coach I have heard the comments. Things like:

• The judge doesn’t like <name of child>’s pony.
• The judge doesn’t like <color of said pony>. you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve heard that the judge only likes greys.
• <Name of child> forgot her bows so she didn’t place.
• <Name of pony> doesn’t have chrome so theydidn’t place.

Or some other excuse.

The truth is,

Unless you have sat and watched all the horses/ponies go and figured it all out, you shouldn’t comment on it.

Generally speaking, the judge REALLY does want you to win. There may have been five, ten or 17 other competitors that may have had a better trip. 

Or

You maybe had a great trip and just squeaked out of the placings because there was a horse/pony that had better form over their fences.

I’m here to tell you 

THE JUDGE DOES LIKE YOUR PONY OR HORSE.

And as a judge myself I really hate hearing that the judge doesn’t like you.

They/We are just trying to do our job and “do right” by you.

How to Win at a Hunter Show

Have you been watching a show and noticed some riders continue to win and place and others seem to do all right things but never place? Points are important and there could be a one point (or half a point) difference between first and second place.

Don’t throw points away

Judging hunters is not as easy as it looks, as a horse show judge some competitors lose points on simple things which can net you a first place ribbon or championship.

Number 1 thing a horse has to do?

The horse must “get to” and jump each fence.  This means:

• No refusals – Expert Advice to Avoid Refusals
• No popping chipping or hopping – Avoiding that Chip – Exercises to help erase that chip
• No rushing – Avoid the rush – Rushing your fences, can he be cured.
• Must get to the right spot – Finding the Right Spot

A summary of the scores

Most judges award points or score hunter rounds based on a score of 100. Remember the horse with the best form over fences should win the class.  So:

• 90-100 Excellent – good form, gets all the spots and beautiful turnout.
• 80-89 Good to Very Good/or an excellent horse with minor mistakes
• 70-79 Average/or a good horse with minor mistakes –
• 50-59 One Major Fault: Hind Knockdown, Adding astride in an In & Out
  Very bad fence
  Dropping a leg
  Trotting on course
  Cross canter – disunited canter
  Wrong Lead
• 40-49 Serious Major Fault: Front Knockdown, Refusal, Extremely dangerous jumping
• 30-39 Two or more serious faults
• 10-29 Very Unsafe and dangerous; but avoids elimination
• Elimination

I invite you to send me an email and share your experiences. You know, we all have unique experiences and sharing our stories will improve our showing abilities.

Some Judges do not award a series of points but use a ‘ladder’ system which rates one horse higher/lower than another. Either way, this will give you an idea of how some judges may judge.

The main thing the horse has to GET TO THE FENCE! 

LOL

Sometimes that doesn’t happen.

It reminds me of when I judged a show and the horse was turned out beautifully. 

Pro braid job, sparkling tack and spotless rider turnout as the rider entered the ring after a full in-gate hoof polish.

I was ready to be amazed.

The circle was great and the course started.
Jump 1 – check

Jump 2 – hmm not so good. Then a trot, 

Jump 3 the horse just cantered by. On their way to the in/out-gate.

Moral of the story – You have to get to the jumps.