led hack classes

[TB]

okaayyy....

so, in a few weeks i will be competing in a zone/ regional hack championship. my horses hate showing because its just tortting and cantering around and all those yucky plaits! but i like it because its not as stress full and a good break from the jumps.. but thats beside the point lol

my question is... what is the judge really looking for in a led hack class? I have done led hack before with little to no sucess haha. in all the "work outs" I have done there is a section where we halt and i "present" the horse.. i think this is my major downfall becasue i just dont know how to do it! do i stand to the side, stand direcly in front or infront to the side? haha and if they do not halt square should i keep fiddling with them until it is square?

also, when i trot with them do i run infront, at the shoulder or just infront of the shoulder?

hah thank you!

oh and btw its not a breed specific led class, its just plain "led hack gelding" lol

[fimacg]

I guess you are talking about what we refer to as an 'in hand' class where you dont actually ride.

When I have always done these I lead with me at the horses shoulder in both walk and trot, and when standing up for inspection stand in front of them with a rustly sweet wrapper in my pocket that I use to rustle to get them to prick their ears and arch their necks looking for their sweetie.

My advice would be not to mess too much, and don't keep fiddling with them while the judge is waiting.

As for what they are looking for I've never done a hack class as my boys are all cobs/native breeds so cant help you there.

[maximum]

pretyy much as Fimag says re the standing the up- practice getting them to stand up and square- if they dont stand square back them up until they are square!

When you run them up really get them trotting out and swinging through- the judge is looking for freedom of movement so getting them really stretching and moving in the trot- run beside them with a long rein so they can stretch through the neck- basically you dont want to be in the way of the judge seeing the horses movement.

not sure what they look for in your side of the world but a hack here is a lightweight riding horse- very fine with immpecable manners and the conformation and movement counts to wards most of the marks. Its a type rather than a breed

[TB]

yeh okay thanks guys i think i will have a good practice of this for a while lol
were pretty good at the ridden stuff but i think i just make them look shokin' in the led classes! lol and i love the idea of the rustling wrapper! i would pick some grass and they never noticed it but they sure will notice the rustling!