Hunter Trials

[toohorsemad]

Ok I tried the whole show jumping scene and its not me at all! :cool: Plus Vic doesn't like it... he can do it (his actually really talented) but he LOVES galloping and he is a fab jumper so do you think hunter trials are the way to go? Like I haven't done xc with him but the natural jumps I have at home he flys and he is brill over dikes. Hes really safe out hunting (well I haven't hunted him but people who did said he was!), apart from xc lessons what else would you do to train for hunter trials?

[Daffy Dilly]

You need to be able to show jump for hunter trials, and do dressage. What didn't you like about show jumping?

What about jump cross? Or pure cross country, maybe team chasing or something.

[toohorsemad]

I though that was eventing... Oh well... There was nothing wrong with Show jumping its just if I was competing I don't think we would stick to it! You know when your schooling you horse and they are willing but you know that they don't really like it.. Vics like that when you sj him but when you go for a gallop he is shaking with the excitement and he soooo happy after it! Plus hes really talented jumping. Don't get me wrong I don't jump gallop with Vic we can now successful do a really good shortened canter, change rein over jumps do doglegs etc.

[Daffy Dilly]

As far as I'm aware hunter trials are effectively a ODE but generally smaller. Might be wrong though.

What about working hunter showing classes? You jump a course of rustic fences at a fairly fast pace, you don't collect coming into the jumps, and then when you do an individual show you do a gallop. :)

[Ginger Thing]

toohorsemad - you are right, that is eventing !:)

Even tiny ODE's are still ODE's - I am doing a 'mini' ODE in June, jumps are 2'3" max.

Hunter trials are just a xc course, no dressage, no sj.

Go for it, sounds like you will both enjoy it!

[Daffy Dilly]

All my local hunter trials involve dressage (albeit only prelim) and a showjumping course.

[toohorsemad]

I haven't really done any hunter trials before and I only did a basic xc before lol so Im nearky completely new to this scene! Oh well.. you got to get started somewhere right?! Thanks for your help!

[Ross]

Sounds like a difference in terminology - I'd check the schedules for local hunter trials and see what's involved. Hunter Trials are normally just cross country with a timed section - eventing includes show jumping and dressage.

Ross

[No_Angel]

i too thought hunter trials were just xc. a good way of practicing for a hunter trial might be going on a fun ride, that way you can have a bit of a canter and pop a few natural fences so you can gauge what hed be like:)

[toohorsemad]

I'm going to a rally...hopefully tomorrow, I'm not sure whats involed but I'm sure it will be a good experience even if its just experience travelling!

[Glider]

Hunter trials are usually xc only, it's horse trials that are all three disciplines. XC schooling and hunting are great ways to practice for competitions.

[Laura+Phantom]

I've never heard of hunter trials involving dressage or showjumping, every single one down here is pure xc. Like Glider said, that's horse trials (eventing).

From what you've said it sounds like your horse would love it, I would take him XC schooling and see how you get on, and enter a novice one and go for it. I'm hoping to do some this year if all goes well...

[eventerbabe]

a hunter trial is just cross country. nothing else. some of our local clubs run jumping derbys which involve half showjumping and half xc, but when you've all 3 phases involved thats eventing, not hunter trials.

[DavidH]

The confusion arises due to BE (British Eventing) having previuosly been called BHTA (British HORSE Trials Association). So Eventing used to be known as Horse Trials (HT) hence the confusion. Hunter Trials are deff only XC but there are several different verions. IE some include a gate which has to be opened and closed. Some use fastest time in the timed section. Others use closest to optimum pre set time in either a timed section or the whole course. Those that include a gate generally use fastest time with the gate being in the timed section.

[drookitsheep]

some include a gate which has to be opened and closed.... Those that include a gate generally use fastest time with the gate being in the timed section.

Funny, was just reminiscing this morning about a friend of mine... there was a (rather high) gate in the middle of a course we were doing some years ago and her horse decided he'd rather take a pull and go over it than wait for her to open it. I wonder how often that must have happened to others in the middle of a course?! I remember watching from afar and not quite believing what I was seeing - I swear I could hear her screaming!