460. WORKING HUNTER

(a) The same rules apply in junior working hunter as apply in senior or

all-ages working hunter classes, except the minimum height of obstacles.

(b) A hunter course shall be any course which management deems a fair

test of a hunter. Judges are responsible for correctness of each course after it has

been set and shall call the show committee’s attention to any errors that would

tend to result in unfair or inappropriate courses.

(c) Course or Arena Arrangement:

(1) Minimum of four obstacles. Horses to jump a minimum

of eight fences. One change of direction is mandatory.

(2) Obstacles which may be used:

(A) Fences shall simulate obstacles found in the hunting field,

such as natural looking post and rail, brush, walls, coops and ascending oxers

(not square). Triple bar and hogsback are prohibited. Striped poles are not recommended;

PVCpoles used as rails are not permitted.

(B) The top element of all fences must be securely

placed so that a slight rub will not cause a knockdown;

(C) Distance between fences is recommended to be in

12-foot (3.5 meters) increments with the exception of some combinations:

one stride in and out, 24-26 feet (7 meters); two strides in

and out, 36 feet (11 meters); three strides, 48 feet (14.5 meters);

(D) Minimum height for junior horses, youth and

amateur classes must be three feet (90 cm), with a maximum of three

feet three inches (1 meter); heights for senior horses must be a minimum

of three feet three inches (1 meter), with a maximum of three

feet nine inches (1.15 meters), and all-ages must be a minimum of

three feet (90 cm) with a maximum of three feet six inches (110 cm).

Minimum height for novice and select will be two feet six inches (79

cm) with a maximum of two feet nine inches.

(E) A variation of 3 inches (75 mm) in fence height,

lower than official heights listed, may be instituted if show management

and the judge feel circumstances warrant, i.e., footing, weather, etc.;

(F) The use of wings on obstacles in hunter classes is recommended;

standards made of PVC material must be anchored or properly

secured.

(G) Jump standards with hole heights at 3 inch (75

mm) intervals with jump cups are recommended.

(d) Scoring:

(1) To be judged on manners, way of going and style of

jumping. Horses shall be credited with maintaining an even hunting

pace that covers the course with free-flowing strides. Preference will be

given to horses with correct jumping style that meet fences squarely,

jumping at the center of fence. Judges shall penalize unsafe jumping

and bad form over fence, whether touched or untouched, including

twisting. Incorrect leads around the ends of the course or cross-cantering

shall be penalized, as well as excessive use of crop. In and outs

(one or two strides) shall be taken in the correct number of strides or

be penalized. Any error which endangers the horse and/or its rider,

particularly refusals or knockdowns, shall be heavily penalized.

(2) Scoring shall be on a basis of 0-100, with an approximate

breakdown as follows:

(A) 90-100: an excellent performer and good mover

that jumps the entire course with cadence, balance and style.

(B) 80-89: a good performer that jumps all fences reasonably

well; an excellent performer that commits one or two minor faults.

(C) 70-79: the average, fair mover that makes no serious

faults, but lacks the style, cadence and good balance of the scopier

horses; the good performer that makes a few minor faults.

(D) 60-69: poor movers that make minor mistakes;

fair or average movers that have one or two poor fences but no major

faults or disobediences.

(E) 50-59: a horse that commits one major fault, such

as a hind knockdown, refusal, trot, cross canter or drops a leg.

(F) 30-49: a horse that commits two or more major

faults, including front knockdowns and refusals, or jumps in a manner

that otherwise endangers the horse and/or rider.

(G) 10-29: a horse that avoids elimination but jumps

in such an unsafe and dangerous manner as to preclude a higher score.

(e) Elimination:

(1) A total of three disobediences which can include any of

the following: refusal, stop, run out, or extra circle.

(2) Jumping an obstacle before it is reset.

(3) Bolting from the arena.

(4) Off course.

(5) Deliberately addressing an obstacle.

(6) Failure to trot the horse in a small circle on a loose

rein for soundness, after jumping the fence, while still mounted

and prior to leaving the arena.

(f) General:

(1) Circling once upon entering the ring is permissible.

(2) Horses shall not be requested to rejump the course.

(3)Manners shall be emphasized in youth and amateur classes.

(4) When an obstacle is composed of several elements, any

disturbance of these elements will be penalized; however, only a reduction

in height of the top element shall be considered a knockdown.

(5) In cases of broken equipment, the rider may either continue

without penalty, or stop and correct the difficulty and be

penalized the same as any loss of forward impulsion.

(6) When an obstacle requires two or more fences (in and out),

faults committed at each obstacle are considered separately. In case of a refusal

or run out at one element, entry may rejump the previous elements.

(7)Disobediences (major faults)-see rules 459e(2)(A-F) except (A)(2).

(8) The course must be posted at least one hour before

scheduled time of class.

(9) It is mandatory that a schooling area with at least one

practice jump or practice time in the arena be provided.

(10) Schooling over obstacles in the ring or over any part of an outside

course is permitted only at the time designated by show management.