There are field hunter classes on the schedule for PNHS today. Is that just a name they throw on a 3’ section so there’s something to jump at that height in the Coliseum today or is this a division that’s out there but hardly see (like side saddle)? I can’t find much information on it in the prize list or on USEF.
I believe that they do have to be “fairly hunted” with a certificate from their hunt secretary. But I haven’t checked the prize list to verify.
I’m pretty sure they are actual field hunters. I know people who hunt who have shown their horses there. I think it’s a big event on their calendar.
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It is a very big deal for the hunts in the area (Chester County PA at least)
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Actual field hunters! On our way up now with two Farmington Hunt Club teams and two Keswick Hunt Club teams.
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Good luck!!! Go VA hunts!
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Oh how fun!! I’ll have to turn on the livestream to watch! It’s nice to see something different.
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Good luck there!!
That’s the true Field Hunter Championship, over two days, including a mock hunt.
What the OP is talking about is a show ring class restricted to qualified field hunters at the Pennsylvania National, similar to the classes at Warrenton Hunti Night or the old WIHS Hunt Night.
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I would say that the true Field Hunter Championship is the Theodora A Randolf Field Hunter Championships. The qualification “rounds” are actual live hunts. The judges ride in the field and select qualifiers from each day’s hunting. The final is an individual test ans mock hunt.
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Does anyone know if the judges are the same for the field hunter classes vs the show hunters?
I am in love with Winterfell 
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In the MFHA and TA Randolph Field Hunter Championships, as well as the Junior National Field Hunter Championships, the judges are absolutely people with a foot in actual hunting world and in showing: think Betty Oare, Linda Reynolds, Snowden Clark.
For field hunter classes at a horse show? I don’t know if they’d bring in a separate judge, unless it was like Warrenton or the old WIHS, with a full slate of classes.
Horseshow judges, they need to be rated judges for the side saddle portion of the evening.
Good point, that makes sense, but I truly don’t know how it works for field hunters. That’s not a section of the USEF rule book like Side Saddle is.
This is the schedule for tonight:
and here are the class descriptions:
None of the judges listed are specifically called out as Field Hunter judges.
Field hunters are an exhibition, so do not follow USEF rules. So technically anyone could judge but because there is a rated division mid evening they need someone there with a license.
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He and Something Special were just picturesque!
But I have to admit if I were going to hunt (always wanted to, never have, yet…) I want the chonky bay that led the Huntingdon Valley team!
