Working Hunter

A Working Hunter is any age in Nebraska 4-H club work that is in any year of showing. The purpose of working hunter is to allow a horse to compete in a field with minimally accomplished horses of the same level experience. The working hunter is a representative of the type of horse used in the hunt field. They should possess manners, jumping ability, style, pace and quality. The working hunter must be able to demonstrate their ability to furnish the rider with a smooth comfortable and safe ride.

Tack and Attire

1. Refer to Hunter tack and attire on pages 17-26.
2. 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.
3. Saddles: Forward seat or hunt seat saddles required.

Optional: Breastplate and martingales.

Prohibited: Dropped nosebands, martingales, boots and bandages ­(exception: inclement weather may permit the use of bell boots only).

Course or Arena Management

1. A hunter course shall be any course that 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. 1. Minimum of 4 obstacles. Horses to jump a minimum of 8 fences. One change of direction is mandatory.
2. Obstacles which may be used:
   1. 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; PVC poles used as rails are not permitted.
   2. The top element of all fences must be securely placed so that a slight rub will not cause a knockdown.
   3. Distance between fences is recommended to be in 12-foot increments with the exception of some combinations: one stride in and out, 24-26 feet; two strides in and out, 36 feet; three strides, 48 feet.
   4. Minimum height will be 2.6 feet with a maximum of 3.6 feet.
   5. A variation of 3 inches 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.
   6. The use of wings on obstacles in hunter classes is recommended; standards made of PVC material must be anchored or properly secured. 
   7. Jump standards with hole heights at 3-inch intervals with jump cups are recommended.
   8. Space the jumps a minimum of 48 feet apart, with all intervals in multiples of 12 feet. The distance of take off or landing from the jump usually ranges from distance equal to the height of the jump to one-and-one-half times the height of the jump (for example, for a 3-foot fence, the take off point would be from 3 to 4 ½ feet from the fence).

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. Preferences 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:
   1. 90-100: an excellent performer and good mover that jumps the entire course with cadence, balance and style.
   2. 80-89: a good performer that jumps all fences reasonably well; an excellent performer that commits one or two minor faults.
   3. 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.
   4. 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.
   5. 50-59: a horse that commits one major fault, such as a hind knockdown, refusal, trot, cross canter or drops a leg.
   6. 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.
   7. 10-29: a horse that avoids elimination but jumps in such an unsafe and dangerous manner as to preclude a higher score.

Disobediences

1. Refusal: This constitutes stopping in front of an obstacle to be jumped, whether or not the horse knocks it down or displaces it. It is a refusal, unless the horse then immediately jumps the obstacle without backing one step. If the horse takes one step backward, it is a refusal.
   1. After a refusal, if the horse is moved toward the obstacle but does not attempt to jump, it is considered another refusal.
   2. In the case of a refusal on an in-and-out jump, the horse must return to the start of the in-and-out sequence and rejump the previous elements as well as the following elements.
2. Run-out: A run-out occurs when the horse evades or passes the obstacle to be jumped or the finish line, jumps an obstacle outside its limiting markers, or when the horse or rider knocks down a flag, standard, wing, or other element limiting the obstacle (without the obstacle being rejumped).
3. Loss of forward motion: Failure to maintain trot, canter, or gallop after crossing the starting line, except when it is a refusal, a run-out or when due to uncontrollable circumstances, such as when an obstacle is being reset.
4. Unnecessary circling on course: Any form of circle or circles, whereby the horse crosses its original track between two consecutive obstacles anywhere on course, except to retake obstacle after a refusal or run-out.
5. Scoring Disobediences
   1. 1st disobedience = 4 fault
   2. 2nd cumulative disobedience anywhere on course = 4 fault
   3. 3rd cumulative disobedience anywhere on course = elimination

Elimination

1. A total of three disobediences that 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. Falls of horse or rider.
6. Deliberately addressing an obstacle.
7. Failure to trot the horse in a small circle on a loose rein for soundness, after jumping the last fence, while still mounted and prior to leaving the arena.

General

1. Circling once upon entering the ring is permissible.
2. Horses shall not be requested to re-jump the course.
3. Manners shall be emphasized in all 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 must re-jump the previous elements.
7. The course must be posted at least one hour before scheduled time of class.
   1. It is mandatory that a schooling area with at least one practice jump or practice time in the arena be provided.
   2. Schooling over obstacles in the ring or over any part of an outside course is permitted only at the time designated by show management.