The dates have been posted for the MO show at the NEC–June 21-22!
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UDJC has added a hunter division.
The attached video was hilarious. I hope the link works……
https://www.facebook.com/61566568240170/videos/1192416319058878/?app=fbl
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Interesting! I think so much comes down to who they get to judge–but that could be said of any discipline.
I think some judges do a better job than others explaining their feedback and rationale.
That video with the laugh track is a bit harsh for a new show trying to attract entries. Try highlighting what is better about your shows instead of slamming the entire existing Hunter population.
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I think it said everything that has been complained and criticized about endlessly on this board for years, right down to the drugged out look and endless lunging.
I think it’s a perfect ad for someone looking for something else.
Since their beginning, my instructor has decided to really invest in this organization. They attended the second show and they are already planning to take 10 horses to the next one.
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Totally agree! It’s just speaking the honest truth!
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It’s very interesting to me that they feel strongly about the hunters starting at 2’6, not lower, but the jumper “style” classes look like they go all the way down to 16 inches (0.40m). They really hammered home the affordability / accessibility in the skit which increases my interest for when the info is released for the show near me (nothing yet).
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As an old lady eventer (and coach) who did hunters in the 70s, I also found it hilarious – not for those who would take offense! (and I could’ve done without the laugh track) but he definitely got his point across, and some harsh realities were brought to light here. The truth hurts. It’s never bad to be introspective, and I think money has taken over the sport, alas - and has made horsemanship in this discipline obsolete for the most part. It really didn’t used to be this way!
I hope he makes a go of this because I think it’s a great idea, and I’m sure they’re still working out the kinks - but I would love this to take off. He does need to be more sensitive to his audience – with this I would agree!
Runs and hides.
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Yeah the laugh track was silly but I find the idea to be great. I really miss watching the hunters from ‘the old days’. Big galloping courses, horses showing spirit and a good turn of foot, and the judging explained.
When the video first started it reminded me of the SNL skit from years ago with one guy trying to explain to the others how Americans measure compared to the rest of the world.
Edit - the skit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk&pp=ygUZc25sIGFtZXJpY2FuIG1lYXN1cmVtZW50cw%3D%3D
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That was absolutely hysterical, and so clever! I laughed my ass off - thank you! 
ETA , yes - “the good old days” – back when we used TBs almost exclusively.
That said, a really good hunter round is a beautiful thing to watch: smooth, rhythmic - and the WB hunters of today (and recent decades) have a certain kind of round, thrusty jump with knees under chin, and a slow tempo canter around the course that makes it look like “a walk in the park”; problem is that not all horses are that naturally chill and devoid of expression, so measures are taken to ensure that they are.
I have a homebred WB mare by a Hanoverian stallion (out of my Prelim mare who is WB/TB), and she has a built-in/bred in rhythm that you could set a metronome to. I can drop the reins on her neck while cantering and the rhythm never changes! She did not get that from her more spicey dam 
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They do mention that the lessons learned from dressage and jumper style should come before venturing into the hunters, so perhaps that is the logic there.
I thought it was an absolute hit, even as my jaw dropped lower and lower. Kudos to whomever they brought on to polish up the rough edges of their initial launch… it’s still the same biting message as before, but couched in humor and easier to digest.
Feel like the concept needs it’s own name though, something I’ve pondered for years. Leave the current system as “Show Hunters” and build up a separate discipline that’s more athletic and skill based. The obvious name choice for that would be “Performance Hunters”, but of course USEF has already thoroughly watered down that moniker.
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I totally get what you’re saying. Where I differ is while a cadence or tempo is good, I like seeing it more in a flowing gallop. More speed, not rushed, but more pace.
There is a second video with the same guys on a boat. Not quite as funny but still good. 
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Yes, agree – this is (ideally) the kind of canter used for eventing show jumping - at least at the lower levels; the ULs obviously require more pace to make the time.
It should look flowing and balanced! Some LL eventers (and a few UL eventers) have rounds that look a little more scary and rushed and inconsistent – all that matters is that the jumps stay up and that the time is made.
I think this new idea would address that (and reward the right things) - which is what I like about it!
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I’ve found my soul mate in the hunter ring!
Maybe this new type of show will help riders. (I always appreciated the dressage score sheet with judges comments. Good or bad.)
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I am just flabbergasted at how deliberately offensive a new show is being trying to get more entries. It certainly doesn’t polish up any rough edges. Or answer any of their questions about keeping out Safesport banned trainers/riders (answer being they don’t intend to) or drugging. I have zero interest in a new show series that starts out intending to offend as many people as possible. HJ trainers often have a mix of hunter and jumper clients, this may change their opinion on trying out a new show and it should.
Is some of that true? Sure. Was some of it funny? Sure, I guess. But why on earth would you put that out there as a new organization? Why not highlight what is better about your shows, instead of slamming an entire discipline?
I would much rather watch a beginner rider in a 2 foot hunter division than the same rider bombing around in the .65.
I am also baffled why “hunters” start at 2’ 6" and not an inch lower or you’re not a real horse person and the jumper divisions are 18 inches.
As someone who has crossed back and forth from eventing to hunters, it’s HARD to get in a good hunter round. Harder than a division where all that matters is you leave the fences up. If a show doesn’t want to run hunter divisions, why not just stick to the CT style shows without hunter divisions? Why say anything? It’s not that I don’t think there’s a place for a new type of horse show, but does it have to do it this way?
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Just to clarify, I am not a hater here, think there is a place for something like this. Just that as a Hunter owner/rider, this skit implies I bought it and the judge, LTD and/or drugged the horse and cannot ride my way out of a birthday Pony ride ring.
I get that it is sarcastic, funny and has some truth to it. But younger people and kids hear that kind of stuff from those in authority and that is what they are going to believe. if they are trying to educate their potential clientele, running down an existing option for showing and those who compete there is not the best approach. Teaching good sportsmanship is difficult enough without this kind of thing.
Plus that ignoring SafeSport opens the door to some deadbeats who drift to lower, unrated levels where they are unknown by naive clients. Not to mention no drug checks being an open invitation in all three divisions with sedation to improve performance ( newer options do not create that drugged look) and/or painkillers that can allow further damage to deteriorating joints. New sandbox for some to play in without these guidelines,
Also need to point out the most expensive horse may win here too if they are better than the others. Fact of horse show life, somebody always has a better horse then you do and it usually cost more then yours did.
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I just think they are targeting an entirely different audience. I imagine it’s someone that rides consistently but only gets to a maximum of four A shows a year, and that’s probably because they live near an equestrian center. And the entire swaths of the Midwest that lack shows, especially between November and April. And trainers that actually want to have a life and not live on the road 5 weeks out of 8. And see their clients investing time & money on low and mid 5 figure horses actually have a hope of getting prizes if they work hard and ride well.
It’s just simply not for those folks that are already sitting on 6 figure horses, and they are cheekily making that point.
There’s a wealth of creativity that could be injected into the hunter division that could separate for ability without sacrificing style, but I sense that it will start looking a lot like equitation with an “equine style” element to it. So again, maybe don’t call it “hunters” (and then you wouldn’t be offending hunter people 
) There’s only so much pace you can carry and so many field jumps you can fit in a standard ring before it starts to look like arena eventing so I’m not sure how far they can stretch that concept to satisfy their goals.
I do think the video probably needed a few more rounds of editing, as the novelty wears off it does get a bit stale and brow-beaty. But for what was probably a pretty low marketing budget? I have to applaud this effort. They’re a teeny-tiny voice needing to get the word out and they probably don’t have tens of thou to spend on a slow & steady saturation campaign. In terms of bang for your buck this will probably prove to be very effective.
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I only rode in hunter shows to prepare for eventing but I found that video so cringeworthy that I couldn’t even finish watching it.
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Cheekily? Why make the point that the UDJC isn’t a A rated HJ show. Isn’t it blatantly obvious? Why insult an entire group of equestrians to make that point?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a 2 foot schooling show kind of girl, but I just don’t see the need to attack a group of people to promote your show.
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