I know I could Google it but my hunt is having a hunter trial and was wondering if any of you have participated? I am intrigued as an eventer as cross country is my favorite part!
Usually trials are like doing cross country but your horse is being judged on his way of going/ jumping. There are solo and pair or team classes. Paces are not judged but are timed and you want to be closest to either the optimum or fastest time. You generally go as a team with at least one other rider. You wear hunting attire (or at least a jacket, breeches and boots) and sometimes you have to braid. I usually just use my xc tack and jumping boots, and a plain saddle pad. Depending on the length, you can do multiple classes/ trips.
I’m an eventer and they are so much fun and a great way to build the horse’s confidence galloping/ jumping in the open! The fences tend to be a little more upright by eventing standards (locally we have a lot of timber type fences, plus coops, stone walls, telephone poles and logs. And mud/ stream/ road crossings).
Followup question on hunter trials: is there a list of trials in the US online somewhere? Is there one organization that sanctions hunter trials, or are they generally put on by individual hunts with no wider organizational oversight? I’d love to watch and eventually ride in one, but know very little about how to become involved in them.
Not that I know of. We do have a local series that the MD hunts participate in, but even that is pretty new. But they are often advertised (at least around here), and most hunts also now have websites so you can get information there.
CindyCRNA- like Highflyer said, this will be a judged event with emphasis on manners and suitability to hunt. Attire can be formal or ratcatcher, riders choice. If ya wanna compete for "Best Turned Out you need to braid. There will a division for Juniors, Hilltoppers, Novice and Regular hunter. There are a few other classes and maybe a Silver Fox division too. Each division will have a w/t/c and over fence or in the case of the Hilltoppers, an obstacle class.
Tack and equipment will be the riders choice. IOW, in a regular horse show there are restrictions on types of bits allowed. That won’t be the case here but keep in mind if someone can complete a cross country course using a snaffle and loopy rein on their horse that might look more suitable to hunt than a horse with a flash noseband, 3 ring gag with two reins, a curb chain and dragging a ships anchor. 
Not implying in ANY way the latter isn’t a blast to fox hunt but on this day, less might mean more in the eye of the judge.
The class list should be finalized and emailed very soon, maybe as early as Sunday!! The flat classes will be held on a grass field and the cross country course will be across the field. The hunt to use to host a Hunter Trial yearly but it fell away years ago so this is a revival. Hope you will be there to have fun!!!
[QUOTE=lmlacross;8250893]
Followup question on hunter trials: is there a list of trials in the US online somewhere? Is there one organization that sanctions hunter trials, or are they generally put on by individual hunts with no wider organizational oversight? I’d love to watch and eventually ride in one, but know very little about how to become involved in them.[/QUOTE]
If anyone does know of the above info, I hope they’ll post it.
We looked all over the internet and couldn’t find much guidance, so ended up taking the single show bill we did find and modified it.
As others have said, “suitability as a foxhunter” is what is being tested. That’s somewhat subjective and would, no doubt, differ slightly from hunt to hunt and region to region. We wanted to see the horse and rider being calm yet bold to each challenge, with taking a longer route to school the horse being preferred over a brute force approach.
I can pretty much guarantee, as an eventer, you’ll love hunter paces. All the fun of XC without the pressure. A good 2 hours of galloping & jumping instead of 5 minutes. No dressage or stadium! Most have food afterward too. I’m so happy it’s finally hunter pace season!
[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;8245519]
I know I could Google it but my hunt is having a hunter trial and was wondering if any of you have participated? I am intrigued as an eventer as cross country is my favorite part![/QUOTE]
tbchic84, a hunter pace is not the same as a hunter trail.
A hunter pace is a 5-8 mile set course of trail and jumps (or no jumps for the hill topping/2nd flight division).
A hunter trail is a judged event on form and style. You have a flat and over jumps portion.
OP asked what a hunter pace/hunter trial is. I was answering the hunter pace part. I am fully aware they are different things.
[QUOTE=jawa;8277108]
tbchic84, a hunter pace is not the same as a hunter trail.
A hunter pace is a 5-8 mile set course of trail and jumps (or no jumps for the hill topping/2nd flight division).
A hunter trail is a judged event on form and style. You have a flat and over jumps portion.[/QUOTE]
Hunter Pace; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5fqTPTE3NU
Hunter Trial; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpLLc9Iwf8I
[QUOTE=lmlacross;8250893]
Followup question on hunter trials: is there a list of trials in the US online somewhere? Is there one organization that sanctions hunter trials, or are they generally put on by individual hunts with no wider organizational oversight? I’d love to watch and eventually ride in one, but know very little about how to become involved in them.[/QUOTE]
Join your local MFHA Hunt.
[QUOTE=SLW;8253273]
CindyCRNA- like Highflyer said, this will be a judged event with emphasis on manners and suitability to hunt. Attire can be formal or ratcatcher, riders choice. If ya wanna compete for "Best Turned Out you need to braid. There will a division for Juniors, Hilltoppers, Novice and Regular hunter. There are a few other classes and maybe a Silver Fox division too. Each division will have a w/t/c and over fence or in the case of the Hilltoppers, an obstacle class.
Tack and equipment will be the riders choice. IOW, in a regular horse show there are restrictions on types of bits allowed. That won’t be the case here but keep in mind if someone can complete a cross country course using a snaffle and loopy rein on their horse that might look more suitable to hunt than a horse with a flash noseband, 3 ring gag with two reins, a curb chain and dragging a ships anchor. Not implying in ANY way the latter isn’t a blast to fox hunt but on this day, less might mean more in the eye of the judge.
The class list should be finalized and emailed very soon, maybe as early as Sunday!! The flat classes will be held on a grass field and the cross country course will be across the field. The hunt to use to host a Hunter Trial yearly but it fell away years ago so this is a revival. Hope you will be there to have fun!!![/QUOTE]
Well, I guess that leaves out my TB! Lol
Has anyone done Cheshire’s hunter trials? We jumped a few on the jumps on the course as part of a 3 day fox hunting camp I did over the weekend. I think it would be fun!
A hunter trial is a set course of ~25-40 fences, timed, judged on number of faults and best time (not on form at any I’ve ever competed in). Usually less technical than eventing xc. I think it’s quite an Irish (maybe European) thing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNAp-cdxuV8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j584TTSVjPE
Generally Novice and Open classes.
They usually have solo, pairs, and sometimes triples classes.
Amazing fun; hunter trial season is my favourite part of the year.
What a timely thread! I just printed out an entry for a local hunt club here in KC that are having their hunter trials next weekend! I have never jumped my guy over a course…what a great place to do it with all of the fun hunt folks who are always so supportive and encouraging!
this link takes you to photos of last year’s New England Hunts Hunter Trials:
https://baskwoodphotos.smugmug.com/Horse-Clinics/Wentworth-Hunt/10262014/i-dVh6nDB
I can’t find any of these near Portland/Vancouver. 
