Judging Horse Events – Hunter Hack

Jan 29, 2020 | Horse Judging, Horses

The purpose of hunter hack is to give horses an opportunity to show their expertise over low fences and on the flat. It is also an introduction to over-fences classes. The horse should move in the same style as a working hunter horse.

Judging

The class will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Even hunting pace
  • Manners
  • Way of going
  • Jumping style
  • Flat work

The class has two components:

  • Fence work, which represents 70% of the score (scored the same as working hunter)
  • Rail work, which represents 30% of the score
    • Horses are shown at the rail at a walk, trot, and canter both ways of the ring with light contact.

Requirements

  • Fence height is between 2 and 3 feet
  • Two fences are set either 36, 48, or 60 feet apart (increments of 12 feet), but no shorter than 36 feet
  • Hunter Hack Pattern
  • There must be 3 to 5 strides between fences
    • Number of strides is determined based on a 12-foot stride
    • 6 feet for take-off and 6 feet for landing
    • Determining number of strides example:
      • 60 feet between fences = 4 strides
        • 60 feet – 6 feet for landing – 6 feet for takeoff = 48 feet
        • 48 feet divided by 12 feet per stride = 4 strides

Scoring

Scores range from 0 to 100, with a minimum of 70% of the score coming from the fence work and a maximum of 30% of the score from the rail work.

Credits

Hunter Hack horses are credited for the following:

  • Even strides to the fence and on the rail
  • Even cadence
  • Attentive look
  • Soft in the bridle
  • Quality shape over the fences
  • Easy way of going

Faults

  • Being on the wrong lead and/or diagonal at the trot
  • Excessive speed or slowness
  • Breaking gait
  • Failure to take gait when called
  • Head carried too low or too high
  • Nosing out or flexing behind the vertical
  • Opening mouth excessively
  • Stumbling

Major and Minor Faults over Fences

  • Faults can range from 1, 2, 3, 5, to 10-20 points
  • The most severe faults include:
    • Hanging one leg down
    • Use of whip
    • Trading leads (after corner and more than two strides out)
    • Leaving off one leg
    • Knockdown
    • Trotting on course
    • Failure to obtain lead through corners and end
    • Disobedience

Disqualification

  • A total of three disobediences which can include:
    • Refusal
    • Stop
    • Run out
    • Extra circle
  • Jumping an obstacle before it is reset
  • Bolting from the arena
  • Off course
  • Deliberately addressing an obstacle
  • Failure to trot the horse in a small circle on a loose rein for soundness, after jumping the last fence, while still mounted and prior to leaving the arena
  • Falling off

Resources