I show in the hunter classes at my local horse club about 3 or 4 times a year. It is an open show and quite honestly, I do it for fun. Sure, I like placing too but it’s just for “points” for year-end prizes for the club. But we do try to do things correct and dress the part.
The hunter hack pattern is usually pretty straight forward where you would simply pick up the lop, round the far side of the arena, do your 2 jumps, and then stop. But we did have a little different pattern at the last show. There weren’t any written instructions with the pattern (just the drawing) but I would surmise that a flying lead change was called for after the jump because the pattern called for a left turn at the lope after the jumps. The pattern began with a trot, and then picking up the right lead because that’s the direction you came around the end of the arena.
Now, my horse is not ready yet for flying changes on cue but I am curious on the execution of this. With my internet reading, it sounds like you can ask for the change over either of the jumps, between jumps, or after the jumps, and all would be acceptable.
So here’s my dumb question – how do you cue your horse for a flying lead change while going OVER a jump? Or did I read some mis-information?
Weight shift as close a description as possible. Anything else can pull a rail…but horse isn’t going to change to that in the air over a fence if he doesn’t change to it on the ground. Honestly, in a Hunter Hack class that normally halts at alittle unrated show? And nothing specific is written on the diagram? Just plan what you do know how to do best. Hope he lands on the new lead.
Just curious, did anybody get the flying change? Don’t really care for judges that get too creative for the level of rider at the show they are judging. For those that don’t know, Hunter Hack is just a rail W-T-C class judged like a pleasure class that then sends each over two low single fences set down the centerline, again looking for basic manners and qualities of a pleasure horse. See it at breed shows and locals in some regions in local open shows. Normally does not require flying lead change.
Do you mean they had you jump a diagonal line rather than an outside line for your hack class? I do a hack class fairly regularly, since I compete in the sidesaddle division, and that’s one of our classes. If you’re jumping a line across the diagonal of the ring, rather than an outside line, then yes, you would be expected to either land or swap canter leads to the new correct lead after the final fence. With my horse, usually just looking where I want to go is enough to get her to land correctly, or land knowing she needs to change; she’s also been doing this long enough that she knows she’s supposed to change after a diagonal, so she’s thinking that way anyway.
Try doing it just by looking, if that doesn’t work, maybe try thinking a bit about stepping into what will be your new outside stirrup. But don’t mess with the horse’s balance too much in the air, or worry about the lead to the extent you effect the jump, because I’m betting at smaller local shows in a hack class, a lot of horses don’t have a change, and you’d be just as well off doing a nice simple change in the corner after the line.
Now, I’m used to doing this at USE shows, so rules/procedures/expectations may vary if your club works under something else, like AQHA rules/procedures/expectations. The use of vocabulary like lope and patterns makes me think this is probably more AQHA-aligned that USE.
As someone who judges hunter hack classes regularly, unless it is specifically stated in the specifications for the class that flying lead changes are mandatory, a nice simple lead change is just as acceptable. I would much rather see that than trying to manipulate your body too much over the fence to try and get a lead change on landing if this is something new to you. That being said, on an open/local circuit with uncarded judges, be prepared for the judge to decide whatever they want.
Ha, well all year it has just been me and one other person in the Hunter Hack class. Everyone else from the Hunt Seat Eq and the Hunter Under Saddle classes (usually around 8 to 12 people) don’t do the Hunter Hack, for whatever reason.
I ride my young horse (he’s 6 this year) in the English classes and I was just happy he wasn’t scared of the jumps this time and actually went over them. I know he was on the wrong lead to finish the last part of the pattern but he stayed loping-- which I was happy with that. I could have broken him down and asked for the other lead, but I chose not to. Little victories I suppose! Next show is this Saturday so we’ll see what kind of pattern they post.
Honestly I didn’t pay close attention to the other gal to see if she did the flying change or not. (She has a nice horse and I know she’s going to beat me anyway, haha.)
I didn’t stay to watch the younger class go after us because I had to go change and get ready for the next event.
Also, the judge has NOT yet had us do a rail portion and they normally don’t. We just do the jumps and done.
Correct. The pattern called for a posting trot on the long end of the arena. About halfway down, pick up the lope. Come around the far end of the arena (going to your right so I would expect they want you on the right lead). Go across your two jumps set up diagonal in the arena. Then lope to the left around the end of the arena, then stop and back.
Good tips. We’re still learning and practicing but he’s usually very good about picking up the correct lead on his own when we are in a circle. He’s getting much better on his simple lead cues on a straight line.
At the last show, I was just focused with getting OVER the jump, haha. But he’s doing well. I can’t complain. We’ve only done two of those shows this year. He balked at the first show and then went right over them at the second show so he’s doing fine.
I feel like most of the shows in my area, including this one, tend to more follow AQHA. Of course, it’s a pretty laid back fun atmosphere so nothing is strict, but if they were to follow guidelines, it’s AQHA.
Absolutely true!!
At the first show, the judge was picky about patterns (as I think they should be). If you were on the wrong side of the cone, you didn’t place. Broken pattern.
At the second show, the judge didn’t seem to care about that and still placed people who were on the wrong side of a cone during their pattern.
I think something like “hunter hack” is a very local type class where the rules vary based on your area/show series. In my area, you are typically expected to halt and return to the lineup after the jumps. So if there was a line set on the diagonal, you would halt on a straight line after the second jump, before you turned the corner and before a change was required.
I am surprised they gave you a “pattern” in hunter hack. And also surprised they didn’t work you on the rail? But I think if you’re turning a corner the preference would almost always be (1) good quality flying change or landing the new lead in the air; over (2) good quality simple change.
In my area, they do not have us lineup after the jumps. You are excused once you do your jumps.
Doesn’t mean a judge won’t call for it someday, but no one has thus far. It’s usually a pretty long day with all the events so they may skip it for the sake of time.
