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Hunt seat refers to a style of English-type riding commonly found at American horse shows. It is simply called "English" riding by many people, and is a classic form of riding based on the tradition of fox hunting. Today's show hunters still retain many similarities to those of field hunters.
Horses used in the competition are show hunters, and are judged on their movement, way of going, manners, and jumping form. Hunt seat equitation classes judge the rider only, including his or her position on the flat and over fences and overall effectiveness while riding.
Hunt seat is an extremely popular form of riding in the United States, and is headed under the USHJA (United States Hunter/Jumper Association) and the United States Equestrian Federation. While hunt seat showing is not an Olympic discipline, many show jumping competitors began by riding in the hunter divisions, before moving up to the more technical jumper divisions.
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Differences Between Show Jumpers and Show Hunters
Hunter courses are designed to simulate a natural cross-country hunting course, with judging emphasis placed on the manners and smooth performance of the horse over fences. Hunters are judged on form, movement, and their fluidity around the course of jumps. Elements of style and way of going are also considered. Judging therefore is somewhat subjective, as the judge has the final word deciding the winner, as opposed to an objective score. Hunters generally never show over fences any higher than 3'6" to 4'.
Although show jumping riders often get their start by riding show hunters, show jumping requires a different, more aggressive type of riding. This is mainly due to the scoring system and the types of courses seen in the show jumping arena. Jumps can be considerably higher in show jumping, up to 5-5'6" in Grand Prix show jumping, and up to 7-7'6" in puissance (high jump) classes. The widths or "spread" of fences can also be much greater in show jumping as well. Fences are anything but natural in appearance, often brightly colored and "scary", and usually include an open water or "liverpool" obstacle. Show jumping may also have varied terrain, including fences on the top or bottom of a bank.
Judging of show jumpers is less subjective. Horses are simply penalized by scoring "faults" if they knock down or refuse obstacles, and each round is timed. The fastest round with the fewest "faults" wins. The most notable difference between hunters and jumpers is the technicality of show jumping courses, which often include great change in stride length, requiring the horse to be extremely adjustable. Turns may be sharp, and combinations are often difficult, with tight distances and several obstacles in a row.
The Classes
Classes of hunt seat riding are often divided by the horse and rider's ability, the rider's age, the height of the horse or pony, and the requirements of the horse in that class.
*Flat classes: the horse's movement is more important in the judging of flat classes, although way of going and manners are also considered while judging. Horses are shown at the walk, trot, and canter. In some classes, backing up, an extended trot or a hand gallop may also be required.
*Pleasure classes: A type of flat class where the horse's manners and suitability for the rider is a more important fact than its movement. The horse should look like it is "a pleasure to ride."
*Over-fences classes: the horse's jumping form and the way it meets the fences of the course are the most important factors in judging, as well as its flying changes, movement, and the fluidity of the course. Manners are usually secondary in judging.
*Equitation classes: judge the rider on the flat or over fences, including the rider's position and their overall effectiveness. The horse does not have to be as stellar of a jumper as in the over fences classes, because equitation horses are asked to jump "flatter", with less of a bascule, so as not to throw the rider out of position as she jumps.
*Model classes or In-Hand classes:the conformation of the horse is judged, as well as their movement and soundness. The horse is not ridden in the model class, but rather led with a bridle.
*Pony classes: designated by the height of the pony. Includes small ponies (12.2 hh or smaller), medium ponies (larger than 12.2 to 13.2 hh) and large ponies (13.2 hh to 14.2 hh). The jump heights in the over fences pony classes are proportionate to the height of the pony, with small ponies jumping 2'3", mediums jumping 2'6", and large ponies with fence heights of 3'.
*Short stirrup, long stirrup, and green/novice rider divisions: These classes are for the most inexperienced riders. Short stirrup classes are usually for riders 12 and under, long stirrup classes are for those 14 and younger, although age varies between shows. Fence heights in these divisions are usually 2'. Green or novice rider divisions have courses set at 2'6".
*Children, junior, and adult classes: are for older or more experienced riders. Fences are usually 3' in the children's and adult amateur classes. Modified junior and Amateur classes are a step up, at 3'3". The highest level for both age groups are the junior and amateur owner divisions, with fence heights of 3'6". Thees classes may be further divided by height of horse into Large (16 hh+) and Small (under 16 hh), or by age of the rider, usually into 14 and under, 15-17 yrs, 18-35 yrs, and 36+.
*Walk/trot classes: are for beginner riders, requiring the rider only to execute the walk and trot. These classes are not always offered at the higher-rated shows.
*Beginner rider classes: open to riders who have just begun showing. The rider may become ineligible for this class after one or two years of showing, or after winning a certain number of classes. These classes are not always offered at the higher-rated shows.
*Maiden, Novice and Limit classes: Classes limited to horses or riders who have not won one, three or six first place (blue) ribbons in a given division.
*Adult Amateur and Professional divisions: these classes are designed to separate the less-experienced amateurs on older, steady horses from professional riders on young or green mounts.
*Baby -, Pre-, First- and Second-year Green: the classes are for inexperienced horses. Baby-green classes usually have a jump height of 2'6", pre-green have a height of 3', first-year green have fences set at 3'6", and second-year green have a fence height of 3'9".
*Regular: for the experienced horse and rider combination. Fences are 4' in height, and the horse is often shown by a professional.
Required Tack
Hunter classes (both under-saddle and over fences classes) are ridden in a close contact saddle, usually of brown leather, with a plain girth and a saddle-shaped pad. The bridle is simple: usually consisting of a snaffle bit, usually either a Dee-ring, full-cheek or egg-butt style, with a cavesson and plain, unadorned browband. The horses are considered to have poor manners and may be penalized if their bit is anything stronger than a snaffle. Any type of noseband other than a plain cavesson is prohibited. This basic tack demonstrates that the hunter is easy to ride and attentive and responsive to his rider.
Some hunters also wear a standing martingale when jumping, especially if they tend to throw their heads. Though seen in jumper classes, a running martingale should not be used on a hunter when showing. Almost all shows require martingales to be taken off during flat classes.
Equitation horses may use a slightly stronger bit, as the horse is not being judged on its manners, and pelhams are often popular. If a pelham is used, it should be used with two sets of reins. The rest of the tack that is used is similar to that of hunter classes. In some breed-specific shows, other types of bit, such as the Kimberwicke, are sometimes legal, but are not considered "classic" hunt seat bits, and riders moving from breed-specific to open competition are sometimes penalized severely if they use non-traditional equipment in open competition.
All hunter and equitation horses should have braided manes while showing. If this is not possible, the mane must at least be be "pulled" (made short and thin by trimming or by individually pulling out some hairs) neatly and lie on only one side of the horses neck. (There are various traditions as to which side is "correct." In one region it is the left side, in another it is the right. Some traditions state that it should lie on one side for mares, the other side for geldings. But in many cases, exhibitors now simply let the mane fall to whichever side it most easily goes.) Tail braiding should also be done. A hunt seat horse has the dock of the tail braided into a "french" style braid that runs the length of the tailbone, with the remainder of the tail allow to flow free.
Horses usually have any long body hair trimmed short, particularly around the fetlocks, jaw, and ears. In some breeds and in some places, it is common to trim muzzle whiskers as well. Again, depending on location, many exhibitors also trim a small "bridle path" by shaving a few inches of mane right behind the ears where the bridle goes over the top of the horse's head. The horse are usually bathed the day before a show, blanketed overnight so they stay clean, then braided and thoroughly groomed the day of the competition prior to entering the ring.
The Rider's Attire
The hunt seat rider should always be dressed conservatively. Usually, the rider wears beige, tan or gray breeches and a navy, gray, dark brown or black hunt coat, usually made of wool. Some years, patterns that appear solid at a distance, such as pinstipes, faint plaids or herringbone, are popular. The rider should always have an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet (usually black, and velvet-covered), dark gloves, and either brown or black jodhpur boots (sometimes called "paddock boots") for children, or tall, black field boots for those 13 years or older. The show shirt, sometimes called a ratcatcher, is a button up shirt with a stand-up collar covered by a separate, matching choker or a stock tie, the final look usually resembling that of a turtleneck. The shirts are usually white or light-colored, coordinated with the colors in the hunt coat. Traditionally these shirts were long-sleeved, but today are more often short-sleeved or sleveless. Stock pins are sometimes worn on the stock tie or choker, although the most recent fashion has been to embroider the rider's initials on collar.
Recently, less-traditional attire has become popular. Many hunt seat riders are leaving behind the velvet-covered hunt cap in favor of a new design characterized by a broad visor, a silver ventilation strip down the center, and a hair-catching cloth at the back. (The ventilation strip has given this style of helmet the tongue-in-cheek nickname, "skunk helmet'). Different colors of jackets and shirts are also being experimented with: where a few years back there were only white shirts with dark coats to be seen, riders are now wearing tan or grey coats with shirts in move vivid pastel shades like green, orange, pink, lavender, and blue. In jumper classes with fences below 3'6", it is becoming acceptable in some regions for competitors to wear any collared shirt, like a polo shirt, expecially when more comfortable during warm weather than the traditional wool hunt coat and long sleeved ratcatcher. Everything below the waist, however, has virtually stayed the same: beige or tan breeches with either black/brown paddock boots for children and tall black field boots for older riders.
"Hunt seat"