“Hunter under Saddle” and “Hunter Pleasure” are different terms used by different organizations to describe very similar classes that have these requirements:
- Riders must exhibit a horse with a bright, alert expression.
- Horse must have gaits that show its working hunter potential.
- Gaits must be free flowing, ground covering, and athletic.
- Contestants compete simultaneously.
- Must travel around the perimeter of the arena and perform a walk, trot, and canter using both directions of the arena
Judging
The event is judged on performance, condition, and conformation, including these criteria, while performing a walk, trot, and canter:
- Functional correctness
- Quality of movement
- Good attitude and manners
- Correct head set and head carriage
The Walk
- Natural, flat-footed, four-beat gait.
- Movement should be straight and true, long, and low.
The Trot
- Two-beat gait.
- Smoothness is more essential than speed.
- Gait should be balanced, well cadenced, long, and low.
- Knees should remain relatively flat with minimal flexion.
The Canter
- A three-beat gait that is smooth, relaxed, straight, long, low, and ground covering.
The Hand Gallop
- A three-beat definite lengthening of the stride canter.
- Ridden in a two-point position.
- A noticeable difference in speed.
A Good Hunter
- Has long, low strides
- Reaches forward smoothly
- Lengthens stride at all gaits when asked
- Has a relaxed, free-flowing movement
- Is correct in all gaits
- Is well cadenced
- Is obedient, well mannered
- Has a bright expression
- Has alert ears
- Responds to light hand/leg contact
View this slide show on How to Judge Hunter under Saddle.
Scoring
Specifications
- Credit is given to the flowing, balanced, willing horse.
- Contestants compete simultaneously.
- Contestants must travel around the perimeter of the arena and perform a walk, trot, and canter using both directions of the arena.
Faults
Faults are given for:
- Quick, short, or vertical strides
- Being on the wrong lead
- Breaking gait
- Excessive speed/slowness at any gait
- Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
- Carrying the head too high or too low
- Over-flexing or straining the neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
- Stumbling
- Excessive nosing out
- Failure to maintain light contact
- Dull, lethargic, or overly tired
- Consistently showing too far off the rail
Disqualification
Disqualifications are given for:
- Head excessively too low consistently
- Nose behind the vertical consistently
