Improving Your Hunter’s Performance in the Hack Class
The importance of the hack class should not be underestimated. True, it is only one class out of five in a division, but often it is the under saddle points that ultimately decide Champion and Reserve. Many people write the hack class off because they perceive that their horse is not a good mover, or that there are "too many good movers in the division" and they wouldn't possibly have a shot at a ribbon. This is not a fantasy article. It will not make your average moving horse into the hack winner! It will, however, give you some insight on how to improve your horse's movement and performance, as well as your own, and help you develop an effective under saddle strategy that could mean the difference between no ribbon, and a low ribbon, or a low ribbon, and a top three finish. Commonly it is only one, or even half a point that becomes the determining factor in the tri-color race! Proper Turnout We can not stress the importance of presentation enough! When walking through the gate for any class, you should be turned out in a fashion that gives a clear impression that YOU think you should be a contender. All too often we see ill fitting tack, unkempt riders, and scruffy looking horses in the competition arena. Horses should be presented with a spotless, well groomed, glossy coat, neatly braided mane and tail, and clean, properly adjusted tack. The bridle keepers should all be secure, with straps tucked in, browbands should fit so that they lay flat on the forehead, and the throat latch should be tight enough that it does not swing in the breeze or fall past the horse's cheeks. Choose a bridle that is complementary to your horse's head. Larger heads look best with wider tack. Subtle padding can add class to a larger head, just as fancy stitching can beautify a plainer horse. A classic head needs nothing more than a plain raised bridle with a wider noseband to complete the picture. It is best to stick to brown tack for a traditional look. Make sure the tack has been properly oiled and broken in before showing in it as many bridles are initially very light in color, and there is nothing worse than trying to hang on to slick new reins at a horse show! Present your horse in the simplest bit that you can. We are big fans of plain and happy mouth big D snaffles. However, some horses actually suit a full cheek better. Try different styles on your horse, and take pictures. Then determine what suits the shape of his head better. Loose rings and eggbutts are not very fashionable in the Hunter world, and try to avoid having to use a Pelham. Your saddle should fit you, and your horse, and be framed with a clean, properly fitted saddle pad. It is correct to have just about an inch of the pad showing around the edge of the saddle. You may need to test several pads out to find the one that works best for the particular cut of your saddle. Be sure that you have a helper ring side for last minute details such as buffing your boots, wiping your horse’s mouth, brushing through the end of his tail, starching any white socks, and applying hoof dressing. Riders should have immaculately polished boots, clean britches, and complementary well pressed riding shirt and coat. If you are only showing one horse, it is nice to choose colors that enhance the overall appearance. For example, a charcoal gray coat and pale blue shirt look stunning on a gray horse. Riding gloves are a must to limit visibility of your hands. Ladies, your hair should be styled appropriately, and contained securely in a hairnet so that no wisps escape! Use bobby pins or hairclips if necessary. Don't forget to tie your number through your buttonhole so that you are able to slide it slightly to one side if called for. If the numbers issued are huge, it is best to trim them. We like to cut the corners on an angle for a sleek look. Warming Up Now that you and your horse LOOK like winners, let's examine the performance. We often find that we get the best movement out of our horses at home near the end of the ride, when we are in the cooling down phase. When you think about it, that makes perfect sense! By this time, the horse's are fully relaxed and focused on their work, and their bodies are completely warmed up and stretched out. We try to duplicate this feeling for a hack class. I am surprised by how many horses are brought to the ring, have a saddle thrown on them, and then sent directly in to perform! How much warm up we do depends on when the hack class goes, and what the horse has already done, or still has left to do that day. If our hack goes first thing in the morning, before the over fences classes, we are sure to warm up for 15 to 20 minutes before we enter the ring. If the hack follows over fence classes, we tailor our warm up in accordance to how much time has passed since our performance. At a big show, it can be several hours, in which case you need 10 to 15 minutes to make sure your horse is loose and supple again, even if most of it is walking. Sometimes we will walk and trot the horse for 10 minutes, get off and strip the saddle so that the horse can jog for it’s ribbon, and then get back on for the hack class. When hacking directly after a jog, we make sure that the horses front legs are stretched out, and we have trotted a figure eight in the warm up area, before we enter the show ring. The Walk In today's world of extravagant trots, exhibitors tend to forget that the rest of the gaits count as well! A great performance showcases your horse’s strengths at every gait. This means that a quality walk is an important part of your repertoire. Horses should walk with a purpose. A nice, forward, ground-covering walk on light contact is the best representation at this gait. You can help develop your horse’s walk by encouraging him to engage his hind steps through alternating leg pressure, and a following hip. As your horse is extending his left front leg, squeeze harder with your right leg, as he extends his right front leg, squeeze harder with your left leg. Combine this with a slight back to front "sliding" motion with your seat on your saddle to achieve long, active walk steps. Focus on feeling the hind steps, and the "swing" through his back.
The Trot: An example of the movement that good balance delivers!
The Canter A good canter is well balanced, and moves across the ground at a working pace. The biggest faults at the canter that we see are horses that are cantering on their forehand, and/ or terribly under-paced canters that borderline on 4 beating. Again, good flatwork creates good balance and a quality canter. The horse must have a light front end to travel across the ground. We do a lot of transitions within the canter, and also incorporate work over poles on the ground to promote light, well-balanced canters in our horses. At home, one of our favorite exercises is to set a line of poles, and change the striding each time we canter through them. For example. poles set 77' apart should ride with a comfortable six strides between them at a solid working canter for the average horse. Shorten the strides to ride this in seven and eight, or hand gallop, and ride it in 5. By making him change his length of stride, and still negotiate the rail, you will teach the horse to stay balanced. Once he has developed as good a canter as he can, it is easy to show it off in the ring. Canter horses at the same pace you would use to jump a single jump. It is best to stay in a low two point, keeping your hip back over his center of balance, and maintain very light contact with his mouth. A strong leg position, and soft, following elbow will allow you to keep your upper body very still, giving the illusion that you are doing nothing besides going along for the ride! Although the hand gallop is very rarely called for in the show ring today, be sure that your horse knows how to do one. The hand gallop calls for a significant increase in pace, a shortened rein length, and a lighter two-point position. Show Ring Savvy Now that you are turned out beautifully, and you have your horse moving as well as his natural ability allows him to, you need to have a good strategy. Always enter the ring showing off your BEST gait; this is not necessarily the trot! Many horses have average trots, and very good canters. It would make sense then, to enter the ring and canter. Your job before the class is called to order is to get the judge to notice you, and give him a pleasing first impression of your horse so that you are in his memory bank as the class goes on. Once you have been noticed, return to a walk and find a spot that you will remain visible in. If you don't have the best mover in the class, then try to position yourself near other average movers. You don't want to be constantly visually compared to superior movers. Stay aware of those around you throughout the class. You may need to make some maneuvers that prevent your horse from being crowded. Most horses wear a better expression when they do not have other horses right next to them, or coming up too close behind them. Make adjustments invisibly. It is very distracting to a judge to see riders that post too high, "see-saw" with their hands, post at the canter, or get dramatic with their elbows! Most judges study the longer straight sides that they have the best view of. Try to keep an eye on where the judge is focused before making adjustments. Often these are best done on the ends of the ring. For example, if your horse gets strong at the canter, sit deeper on the ends of the ring and use a couple of half halts to lighten him before "making a pass" by the judge. Or if your horse is getting hollow and high headed, use the end of the ring to bend him, and put him back in a rounder frame before your next pass. Stay most visible for the things you do best. If your horse has a great canter, and an average trot, be sure that you are by yourself at the canter, and maybe use a couple of other horses to limit the judges view of your horse at the trot. Be sure that when you line up, the judge has a clear view of your number. It should be re-centered if adjusted to the outside for the class. Try to find a space in the center of the line so that you are not forgotten when he is looking over his notes. Practice the halt at home so that your horse is able to stand squarely, and quietly. Riders should sit in the middle with both hands on the reins, and please, no talking to your friends in line! Remember to accept awards graciously and always give your horse a big pat!
