Monthly Column by Carol Dean-Porter |
THE SPORT OF
SHOWING HUNTERS AND JUMPERS
Hunters are shown over
a course of fences designed to simulate the hunt field and horses are judged subjectively
on smoothness of pace, style of jumping, way of moving (including soundness) and manners.
Judges penalize unsafe and bad jumping form. Other faults include refusals, missed or late
lead changes, rubbing or knocking down the jumps, bucking, pinning the ears and spooking
or shying. In some classes, conformation is also judged as a percentage of the total
score. In these classes judges must penalize, but not necessarily eliminate horses with
structural faults, defects and blemishes.
Hunters are generally shown in snaffle, double or pelham bridles with unconventional types
of bits or nosebands penalized by the judge. The rider's clothing is expected to be
conservative hunting attire, generally beige or tan breeches and conservative colored
coats. Riders are to wear black, brown or dark blue hunt caps, with chinstraps required
for juniors.
Hunter divisions are divided by the level of experience of the horse or rider, age of the
rider and or size of the horse. At most horse shows you will find progressively taller
fence heights as the level of experience and expertise increases. Baby green classes are
for horses who are very young or very inexperienced and usually are set at about
2'6". Pre Green classes are for those who have never jumped 3'6" in the show
ring and the jumps are about 3'. Next comes First Year Green at 3'6", Second Year
Green at 3'9", and finally Regular at 4'. In these classes the horse is generally
shown by a professional rider.
For junior riders and amateurs there are short and long stirrup classes for beginners
usually set at about 2', Green or Novice rider classes set at about 2'6", Children's
and Adult classes at about 3', Modified Junior and Amateur classes at 3'3", and
Junior and Amateur Owner classes at 3'6". Junior hunters can be further divided by
size of the horse into Small (under 16 hands) and Large (16 hands and over). Usually shows
will divide classes by age of the rider as well, such as 14 & Under, 15-17,18-35 and
36 & Over. Some shows even divide into more age breaks than that depending on entries.
Ponies under 14.2 hands have hunter classes of their own, divided by size. Small ponies
are not to exceed 12.2 hands and jump fences 2'3". Medium ponies are 12.2 to 13.2
hands and jump 2'6". Large ponies measure over 13.2 hands and not exceeding 14.2 and
jump 3' fences.
In Under Saddle Classes, horses are shown at the walk, trot and canter both directions of
the ring. Horses are judged on way of moving, manners, alertness and obedience. In Model
classes, horses are led into the ring and judged on conformation, way of moving and
soundness.
Jumper classes are
scored mathematically on faults incurred between the start and the finish line. Penalty
faults include refusals, knockdowns, touches and time penalties.
In most of the AHSA table II classes, knockdowns of the rails are penalized 4 faults each,
the first refusal is 3 faults, the second refusal is 6 faults and a third refusal is
elimination. In classes where there is a time allowed established, entries are penalized
fault for each second or part of a second over the time allowed. Horses with tie scores in
the first round perform a jump off, using another course, generally with time as the
tiebreaker. In the jump off, time penalties are one fault per each second or fraction of a
second over the time allowed, so time faults can add up quickly.
There are variations of the table II classes. Some of them require the rider to
immediately perform the jump off course on completion of the first round. In section
"B" classes, the rider finishes his first round, stops and waits for the signal
to proceed, then jumps his second round. In section "C" classes, the rider
continues on to his jump off portion of the course against the clock, without stopping. If
he acquired faults in the first portion of the course, the judge will sound an audible
signal (tone or whistle), which tells the rider to stop.
Table III classes are judged on speed, with knockdowns penalized by the addition of 4
seconds, rather than faults. Refusals are penalized not by faults, but by the additional
time taken to complete the course.
Table I classes are scored similarly to Table II classes except that touches of the jump
are penalized by fault for a touch with the hind legs and 1 fault for touches with the
front legs.
Table 1V classes are scored as Table 1 classes with touches being penalized in the first
round, and time being applied in the jump off.
Other classes are puissance or high jump classes which test a horse's ability to jump
large obstacles, fault and out, relay classes, top score (gambler's choice) and match
races.
Equipment is not restricted except in classes offering $25,000 or more in prize money. In
these classes only running martingales are allowed. Standing martingales, draw reins or
restricted running martingales are prohibited.
Most classes are divided by amounts of money won by the horse. Preliminary jumpers are to
have won less than $5,000 or horses which have won $5,000 and are in their first two years
of showing. Fences are usually in the 3'9" to 4'6" range. Intermediate horses
have won less than $10,000 and jump fences about 4'6" to 4'9" in height. Classes
that are not divided by amounts of money won are for riders of varying ages and abilities.
Junior exhibitors show junior jumpers and adults who own the horse and are classified as
amateur riders show Amateur-Owner jumpers. Jumps are generally set at about 3'6" to
4'6". Adult Amateurs do not need to own the horse they ride and junior exhibitors
ride Children's jumpers. The jumps are usually about 3'6". Some shows offer even
lower fence heights such as Training, Schooling and Pre Training jumpers. These are for
very inexperienced horses or riders, or exhibitors who are using these classes as practice
or warm up rounds.
