Each month Hattie will list some tips or information for anyone looking to show their horse or already showing. You are welcome anyone to email Hattie at harriethammond@btinternet.com if you have any showing related questions you would like her to answer. Every month we will publish any questions along with a new subject and information about showing in detail for example: Turnout, Grooming, Rider Look, Way of Going, Ring craft and so on.
SHOWING CLASSES EXPLAINED
First things first. It is not always obvious or explained what each class involves or what class you should put your horse in when first attending a show. I find there is often a confusion among the non-showing community what certain classes are, especially hack classes. Therefore, I will outline just a few of the main stream ridden classes.
WHAT IS A SHOW HACK?
The ideal Show Hack is of thoroughbred type and should be capable of carrying an average adult. The Hack must be a pleasure to ride and have excellent manners. The Hack should be in self-carriage and be light and soft to ride, it should also have correct conformation with the emphasis on quality and elegance. The latter stems from a well set on head and neck combined with a good length of shoulder. The movement should be smooth and graceful with a true pointing of the toe. To achieve these qualities the Hack must be extremely well schooled. Hacks are expected to peform in a double bridle, Canter serpentine and rein back as part of their show. They perform an individual show and then the judge will also ride them. No gallop is required.
Hacks can be:
Small Hack – mare or gelding 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms, but not exceeding 154cms.
Large Hack – mare or gelding 4 years old and over, exceeding 154cms, but not exceeding 160cms.
Hacks are supremely elegant of all show horses and often schooled to high levels of dressage. They were the Ferrari of years gone by “posing cars“. Nowadays they are often ridden one handed around the ring stemming from when it was said that years ago the men would be riding their hacks down Rotten Row in London one handed whilst reading their newspaper. Ladies wear navy jackets to show a hack and men wear tweed. The horse should have a short pulled tail, excess hair trimmed and mane should be plaited.
WHAT IS A RIDING HORSE?
A Riding Horse is between a Hack and a Hunter. It should have quality, substance, good bone, correct conformation, presence and true action.
Riding Horses can be:
Small Riding Horse – mare or gelding four years old and over, exceeding 148cms and not exceeding 158cms.
Large Riding Horse – mare or gelding four years old and over, exceeding 158cms (15.2H)
Riding horses are shown with pulled tails, excess hair trimmed and plaited. They also wear a coloured brow band. Riders wear Tweed Jackets - not navy/black. An individual show is not required and the judge will normally ride. A good gallop is required in the riding horse classes.
The Cob is a type rather than a breed. A short-legged animal exceeding 148cms with a maximum height of 155cms, it has bone and substance with quality and is capable of carrying a substantial weight. The Cob should be well mannered and ideal for nervous or elderly riders. Cobs should have sensible heads, (sometimes roman nosed), a full generous eye, shapely neck crested on the top, with a hogged mane and well defined wither. The Cob should also have clean, strong hocks and all the attributes of a good hunter; low movement and a comfortable ride. Cobs must be registered as lightweight (minimum of 8½” bone) or heavyweight (minimum of 9” bone). Cobs are shown trimmed, with pulled tails but with a hogged mane. Riders should wear
To show a hack, cob or riding horse affiliated you must join yourself and horse to the British Show Horse Association. Visit www.britishshowhorse.org for more information. The vast majority of local shows will hold unaffiliated Cob or Riding Horse Classes as they are extremely popular.
WHAT IS A PART BRED ARAB?
To show at local shows in this class you will not need to be Arab Horse Society registered. However, if you are wishing to compete in any affiliated or county level shows you must be Arab Horse Registered to take part in a part bred Arab class. Your horse must carry a minimum 12.5% of Arab blood to compete.
Part bred Arabs and Anglo Arabs tend to look more like hacks and riding horses. They are trimmed with pulled short tails, plaited and wear coloured brow bands. They are judged as riding horses. Ladies wear navy coats when showing a part bred Arab. For affiliated part bred Arab classes & The Cherif Championship visit www.arabianlines.com for all the information.
WHAT IS A PURE BRED ARAB RIDDEN ?
As above you will need to be a member of the Arab Horse Society and your horse will need to be on the Pure Bred Arab Horse Register, to show at any affiliated shows. Ridden Arabs are again, judged as Riding Horses and the judge will ride. At major shows or county shows the Arabs are split into Mares, Geldings and Stallions. Which is quite unusual for ridden show classes. Arabs are shown in there natural state - untouched, long manes and tails, feathers and importantly whiskers! While the dress code is not so clear cut, people showing Arabs ridden will wear
All the above classes also have In-hand classes too for each type or breed. These will be predominantly young stock and breeding classes. However, showing pure Arabians in hand is extremely popular and altogether quite different to other in hand classes.