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Quarter marks in H/J World

Hunter/Jumper
#1

My friend is competing in a hunter derby soon and I will be grooming for her. I’ve been wondering, are quarter marks ever acceptable in the hunter ring? I was thinking a checkerboard would look nice on her mare but I’m not sure if that is a bad idea - I’ve only been showing in hunters for about a year and have only been to one A-rated show, so I’m not too familiar with the grooming norms. For context, this is a local “season finale” show at the 3’ level. Double points are awarded towards end-of-year rankings.

I know turnout is important, and quarter marks can help highlight a horse’s hindquarters as well as demonstrate good care, but do judges like to see them in hunter derbies? Would she be penalized for them? If they are appropriate, do they need to be the same on both sides of the horse?

Similar question for curiosity: when are quarter marks appropriate for jumpers? What about equitation? Only at the higher levels? I’ve seen them in eventing and think they look so polished.

Thanks in advance!

#2

Quarter marks are not seen too often these days at H/J shows, but they pop up here and there. They are perfectly acceptable in hunter classes, especially for big events like derbies. Also perfectly acceptable for jumper classes. I have seen jumpers with some spectacular works of art on them.

Personally, I would not put them on an equitation horse.

4 Likes
#3

Quarter marks have actually become kind of popular in the derby classes, especially the internationals.

5 Likes
#4

I don’t see them too often in my area, but they do show up now and again. I’ve spotted a couple nice International derby horses with them over the years, and there was an eventing-y horse with a checkerboard on either side in the jumpers at the last show I was at. I think they were doing the High Child/Adult Zone Final class but I’m not 100%. He looked very classy!

#5

Yes for a big jumper class or a hunter derby. Generally no for an everyday hunter division and definitely not for eq, where only the rider’s equitation should stand out, and everything else (tack, braids,etc) should be de minimus.

1 Like
#6

Quarter marks should definitely be the same on “both sides” of a hunter. It was used over the top of the croup in my day, not on the sides. Checkerboard is classic, but make sure the horse’s croup is worthy of the attention.

A hunter championship is not the time to get creative. A checkerboard stencil should be easy to find. :yes:

3 Likes
#7

I googled some. https://www.tackroomonline.com/quart…k-stencil.html

Choose a small pattern for a hunter.:yes: I’d stay classic with the small squares (checkerboard.) If you you have an old school judge they won’t mind them and may even be pleased to see them.

You don’t want large marks that jump out at the judge.:no: Just a hint of a small pattern when the light hits them. Times are changing but I’d be conservative with a hunter and save the large quarter marks, sharks teeth, etc… for other disciplines.

#8

I think they are lovely on a nice hind end and appropriate for an end of season derby!

Remember that in the hunters anything out of the “ordinary” will make horse/rider stand out from the pack - and that can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the day. I recently read an article where a judge said something a LITTLE unique (I think an interesting tie on a man was the example?) is often actually helpful to her in a big flat class.

#9

Quarter marks are a bit like wearing a burgundy jacket or choosing rust breeches - you will DEFINITELY stand out so you’ll need to have a pretty solid round as it will no doubt be memorable. And like burgundy coats and rust breeches, some judges will be okay and some will be more on the conservative side and not appreciate it so much. If you have a stellar horse and a stellar round, then it would be a nice touch that makes it that much more memorable - especially if you are competing against a sea of bays and your horse isn’t “memorable” in his/her own right.

I used them in the 90’s on a horse that I showed in the dressage suitability classes, but I honestly would not attempt it today with my green hunter. He’s gorgeous and is memorable enough on his own.

#10

Checkerboards don’t really require a stencil… an old comb cut to size and a good eye…

2 Likes
#11

A “good eye” is what I never had. :lol:

#12

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10742082}[/ATTACH] This was in my email yesterday.

4C7AAF5C-D51D-43FA-994C-786D79A38E06.jpeg

1 Like
#13

@MHM the article is too small to tell. Does the horse in the photo have quarter marks?

#14

Sorry, yes. And they are very visible in the original picture.

#15

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“large”,“data-attachmentid”:10742631}[/ATTACH]
Is this better?

8C10AA14-969A-45A3-AB2C-0D0E68D66714.jpeg

1 Like
#16

Yes, very visible! They look nice.

#17

Much better, thanks. That is a beautiful turnout on horse and rider, quarter marks remind me of the old days at MSG when it was common in the hunter divisions. I don’t remember them extending quite so far back on the hindquarters though, but its still an attractive look for special occasions.

#18

Weren’t clipper blades sometimes used in place of a comb? I don’t think stencils for checkerboards even existed in those days.

1 Like

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