Working hunters are one of the most popular showing classes. With separate sections for horses and ponies, riders are required to jump a course of rustic fences. In horse ranks, a ride judge will then officiate the performance while pony contenders are required to perform an individual show. Conformation is also assessed before the marks for each section are added together to produce the final line-up.
Horses usually compete together or in seperate lightweight and heavyweight sections. Ponies are split into respective height sections, with different classes for 13hh, 14hh, 15hh and intermediate as well as nursery and cradle stakes ponies. There are also different rider age limits for each of the working hunter pony classes.
The biggest working hunter finals for both horses and ponies take place at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Royal Windsor also attracts some of the best working hunter contenders of the season.
In 2019, the working hunter pony Cogo Bongo was the first working hunter pony to stand supreme at HOYS.
Follow Horse & Hound to hear the latest working hunter news as well as tricks and tips on how to win in these competitive classes.
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