The purpose of hunter hack is to give horses an opportunity to show their expertise over low fences and on the flat. The hunter hack horse should move in the same style as a working hunter. The class will be judged on style over fences, even hunting pace, flat work, manners and way of going. The poll should be level with, or slightly above the withers, to allow proper impulsion behind. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance.
Tack and Attire
- Refer to Hunter tack and attire on pages 17-26.
- Protective headgear with chin strap is mandatory.
- Regulation snaffles, pelhams, and full bridles, all with cavesson nosebands, are required. Smooth mouthpieces are preferred in all snaffle bits, whether used alone or in combination.
- Saddles to be forward seat or hunt saddles.
Optional: Breastplate.
Prohibited: Dropped nosebands, martingales, boots and bandages (exception: inclement weather may permit the use of bell boots only).
General Regulations
To be judged on performance and manners, with preference shown to the horses covering the course with free-flowing strides and jumping fences from these strides without interrupting rhythm. Added preference shown to those horses with the desired movement that jump the two fences squarely and at the center of each fence.
Class Routine
- Fence Work: Exhibitors are first required to jump two fences, each a minimum of 2 feet and a maximum of 2 feet 9 inches in height. Jumps must be set at multiples of 12 feet apart at 48, 60, or 72 feet. After completing the second jump, riders proceed at a hunting pace to the end of the arena and turn left or right (judge's discretion) and hand gallop along the rail, pull up, back and stand quietly on a loosened rein.
- Rail Work: After jumping the two fences and working the one rail individually, the class will be judged in a group on the flat. The flat work will be shown as a walk, trot and canter both ways of the ring with light contact. If asked to back, exhibitor must back easily and stand quietly. While working on the rail, the order to reverse should be executed by turning to the inside (away from the rail). The exhibitor may be asked to reverse at the walk or trot at the discretion of the judge but shall not be asked to reverse at the canter.
Scoring Procedure
Fence work and individual rail work = 70%
Group rail work = 30%
TOTAL = 100%
Faults
Faults over fences should be scored as in Nebraska 4-H Hunter rules. Faults during rail work:
- Excessive speed or slowness (at any gait).
- Being on the wrong lead or wrong diagonal at the trot.
- Nosing out or over flexion of the head behind the vertical.
- Failure to maintain light contact in the horse's mouth.
- Failure to take the called-for gait when called for.
- Head carriage too high or too low.
- Breaking gait.
- Stumbling.
- Opening mouth excessively
Course Design
Two fences, each at least 24 inches but not more than 33 inches high. Fences are to be set in line, placed at any increment of 12 feet apart, and set 36, 48, or 60 feet apart, or by increments of 12 feet but no less than 36 feet. Two in-line jumps with ground lines to be set down arena center or midway between arena center and arena wall, so that adequate room can be maintained for a hand gallop, rail, etc. Also, the jumps must be set far enough off the wall so that group work will not be hampered.