Tips for the Under Saddle

[kaya842]

The threads I found on this were pretty outdated so I wanted to ask again - what are everyone’s tips for doing better in the US/ hack (particularly if your horse is an average/ good but not amazing mover)?

I watched a few youtube clinics, one from Archie Cox, who recommended riding more of a diamond shape but I can’t quite picture how that would be beneficial. Anyone know? Another tip of his was to have the rider’s number off center towards the judge and to adjust it when changing directions. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that and it seems like it could be distracting to horse/ rider/ judge to fiddle with the number mid flat.

[Demerara_Stables]

I’d take some lessons from a dressage instructor that won’t try to put your horse in a dressage frame, and do some strengthening. Transitions in between gaits, within gaits, and lateral work will all improve movement quite a bit. I can’t provide any tips for showing in the class itself, but getting my horses fitter has always made them move better.

[zany1]

If you can, try to figure out who are the best movers in the class and stay away from them. Better yet, find yourself between ahem less gifted movers. This is what helped me get my adult hunter who was really my adult eq horse to be in the ribbons in the US. He wasn’t the worst mover of the class, but quite far from the best.

ETA typo

[mroades]

Hunter judge here…we actually love it and often request that you slide your numbers to the outside. We get irritated when a majority ignore that instruction. It really does help us find you

Do not circle if at all possible!! Just be looking around to make sure you don’t get cut off, and use the quarter line or cut off an end if you need spacing. And yes, stay away from the fancy movers if you can!

[Paint_Party]

@kaya842

Another tip of his was to have the rider’s number off center towards the judge and to adjust it when changing directions.

I’ve done this since maybe the 1990s? One of the horses I showed was a TB mare that was a little hot, and for some reason sliding the number over when we changed directions seemed to give her a chance to settle and unwind.

@kaya842

Archie Cox, who recommended riding more of a diamond shape but I can’t quite picture how that would be beneficial.

Don’t laugh, but I tend to ride a diamond shape even when I compete in ranch rail (pleasure) classes. At the “tips” of the diamond I can half-halt, collect and press my mare together which helps her engage her hind end. And then I ride the diagonal line to allow her to stretch out while still maintaining self-carriage. Keep in mind that in competition the angles of the diamond are very subtle. But it’s just that you aren’t overbending around the turns, which can end up with your horse shortening his stride. You want long and low.

[outside_leg]

Oftentimes the announcer will remind riders to adjust their number to the outside at the start of the class and when you change direction, so it’s less a tip or a distraction.

The biggest key to the under saddle is positioning. You want to make sure you are where the judge can see you. Stay off the rail and on the quarter line. Keep an eye on the others in the ring, you don’t want to be the one who’s endlessly circling because you got stuck behind horses. Be aware of how quickly your horse moves versus others in the ring, and stay out in corners as needed to maintain distance.

As others said, stay away from the good movers if you’re on an average mover. And know your strengths. If your horse is an average mover, work on your straightness and clean transitions. Those are areas that can help you shine, and anyone can practice those skills. Remember the judge wants to see your horse relaxed and demonstrating good manners. So work on keeping them level and calm in all sorts of scenarios.

At the end of the day, you’re probably not going to beat a good mover unless they blow a lead or such. But by demonstrating good manners, clean and straight transitions, and showcasing good judgment and strategy in where you position yourself, you can still do well.

[Paint_Party]

@outside_leg

At the end of the day, you’re probably not going to beat a good mover unless they blow a lead or such.

Ain’t this the truth. One of our mares was a Hanoverian/Trakehner by West Coast who was a phenomenal mover. Honestly, unless she reared or tried to jump out of the arena we would always win the hack. It was almost embarrassing.

[Madison]

@outside_leg

At the end of the day, you’re probably not going to beat a good mover unless they blow a lead or such.

I’ve always viewed it as you know generally what group you fall in - top contenders, middle of the pack, low ribbon, hoping multiple people have mistakes, lol. You probably won’t ride your way out of one group and up into the next group, but you can improve your placing within your “group” by riding smartly.

To the OP, if a hack goes in your ring before your class, go watch and pay attention to how the judge runs the class, what part of the ring they tend to watch, and how the horses go that pin well. Then apply that information to the ride. If they always watch one end or the middle, make your corrections at the other end, and make sure you set up for a good pass in the section of the ring where the judge focused much of their attention.

Get a friend to video some segments of your u/s and see what you think needs to be improved and work on that. I had a really sweet horse that moved cute enough for good ribbons, but he didn’t tend to wear his ears well and it made him look grumpy and hurt his placings. So I would practically ride him at the jump standards or anything I could find to point him at that would interest him enough to prick his ears, lol, and it made a difference. So, sometimes you have to strategize!

[Night_Flight]

With regard to turning the number, as others have said it is absolutely something that is encouraged (depending on whether the judge intends to stand inside the ring or stay in the booth, you will typically be directed to turn it either to the inside or to the outside), just please do not turn it so much that it goes under your arm! It makes it so much more difficult to make out the number than if it hadn’t been turned at all.

It’s just a subtle tug on the number in one direction or the other as you start your class and as you walk while changing direction, it really isn’t distracting or fiddling.

If you’re first in the ring for the under saddle, track left. It can get really confusing for the other riders, particularly in classes aimed at riders newer to showing, if someone tracks right and they’ll either all follow suit and need to change direction when the class starts (on the left rein), or you get a mix of horses going in both directions.

[MHM]

Be aware that the judge is watching from the moment you step into the ring, even before the class has actually been called to order.

So that would be the time to show off your horse’s best gait, whatever that may be.

You don’t have to keep it up forever and tire out your horse if they are waiting for stragglers to show up to complete the class.

But you will notice that smart exhibitors make one or two good passes in front of the judge at their best gait before the class even starts.

And yes, absolutely adjust your number to the outside, especially when it is requested.

When people can’t be bothered to do that, I figure they just don’t really want to get a ribbon.

And if you want to be a little extra smart, when you line up at the end of the class, try to be in the middle of the line up. And if you’re on the ends far away from the judge, maybe stand at a little bit of an angle, so the judge can still see your number clearly as they double check their results.

And even though the subject has not been raised, I will take the opportunity to point out a pet peeve of pretty much every judge, which is when the hair bows on little kids cover their numbers.

No bows, small bows, big bows, I don’t care. Just make sure the number is clearly visible at all times.

Don’t make the judge try to guess the kid’s number!

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. Lol.

[greysfordays]

Also, if your horse has a better gait between trot and canter, prioritize being alone for the better gait. My horse had a good trot but an exceptional canter. I would often be first or second in the ring and strike off on his very good canter by myself confidently.

Then I really focused on my placing and found out ahead of time if a judge stepped us right into canter after switching to the right or had us trot first. For the trot, I would allow myself to be closer to other horses, ideally not as good moving ones, bc I didn’t want to highlight the disparity between the gaits.

Ears can really help. As he got older, flat classes got less exciting for my horse. We would usually go no ear plugs and I second pointing at jumps whenever going by the judge. I would try to avoid any aids no voice, leg hand what have you, so they kind of float by looking through the bridle.

[Hoofbeat_Heartbeat]

No advice here since my guy moves like a cart horse and articulates each of his joints (even his pastern), more than any horse I’ve seen, but all I can say is that the under saddle is my favorite class of the horse show since there is literally no pressure for me to try to pin well

For me, I try to find an equally … not fancy mover, and go near them

[LazyA1]

I have never heard of this diamond shape,but I can tell you that it is super annoying when riders don’t stay in their lane. In other words, if you’re 10 feet off the rail don’t move to 7 feet then 13 feet, etc. Be predictable as a courtesy to other riders. Crossing in front on the path of a horse behind you is poor sportsmanship.

[Paint_Party]

To be sure, the idea is not to ride your own pattern, oblivious to the rest of the class. It shouldn’t be everyone riding their track in an oval arena and then there’s this one person making their own weird diamond shape as if she’s out there by herself.

No one wants to do that (I don’t think). It’s very subtle and the opportunity to do it doesn’t always present itself in a large class.

I suppose at the very least, it makes a great schooling exercise at home.

[spurofthemoment]

@LazyA1

Crossing in front on the path of a horse behind you is poor sportsmanship.

I almost wonder if some judges will score against someone who is blatantly cutting others off - I once got so badly cut off by a rider that I broke stride, but still pinned 3rd. Rider that cut me off did not pin. So much happens in hacks that we don’t see when we’re in them, so who knows.

A tidbit I picked up was that some judges will note who is a good mover during the O/F portion so they know who to look out for in the U/S. Make sure your courses have clean transitions, and if you’re able to show the trot at all with a finishing circle, do so! Ride every step from the moment you’re in the gate to the moment you’re out.

I ride in a lot of pleasure horse classes and make sure to smile. I’m not sure if it helps, but my horse isn’t a phenomenal mover by any means (fancy enough, but just okay) and we do well! Sometimes ya gotta “sell it!”

[MHM]

@spurofthemoment

I almost wonder if some judges will score against someone who is blatantly cutting others off - I once got so badly cut off by a rider that I broke stride, but still pinned 3rd.

I would say that if a judge sees something happen like that, the judge might not hold it against the horse that broke stride as the result of being cut off.

The tricky part there is that the judge may not always see the cause and effect, depending on where it happens in the ring and where the judge is looking at that time.

So if the judge only sees the effect, which is that one horse is trotting while all the others are at the canter, the judge will not know what caused it.

I will say that if you make a mistake in the flat class, you should still keep trying to win, since you can never tell whether or not the judge saw it happen! Lol.

[BAC]

@kaya842

Another tip of his was to have the rider’s number off center towards the judge and to adjust it when changing directions. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that and it seems like it could be distracting to horse/ rider/ judge to fiddle with the number mid flat.

I’ve seen that done many times including at the Hampton Classic. The rider just slides the string with the number a bit so its easier for the judge to see it.

[CoffeeLover]

This article on how to flat well has lots of excellent tips - especially the diagram and other tips on how to use the ring and navigate traffic.

https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/training/14-tips-for-a-better-under-saddle-class/

[mroades]

I absolutely will take one out of contention if it caused another horse to make a mistake.

[Annie10]

Figure out who the fanciest horse in the class is and then stay away from It.
I do the number slide thing, judges really appreciate it.
Don’t get jammed up in groups of horses. Pay attention and plan. Use the quarter lines and don’t be afraid to make a circle if you need to, as a last resort to avoid or get out of a heap and avoid drama.
Don’t let anyone crowd you. It’s about showmanship as well as your horse .
When you know the end is coming be ready to double time it into the center, preferably the middle. Again pay attention and plan.