cross country & working hunter advice please

[sugarpuff]

:D hi everyone, just wondering if anyone can help me.

i am riding a fantastic horse, she is very capable of doing cross country and working hunter classes. the thing is i have never done a working hunter class:confused: could anyone give me any tips? we will do local level first she has both brown and black tack (brown i think i would have to show in?)does this mean a brown tweed jacket, (beige/cream jods and brown hat and boots) is there no way i can get away with another colour, keeping my black boots, i dont like brown:o also does anyone know if at all possible theres any videos (maybe you showing pros have some?)i could watch on working hunter classes, so i can pick up some tips.

Cross country - i have done showjumping done lots of fun cross country rides. we went on saturday to do some cross country practicing and it was the first time i had taken her to something like that, we jumped all the jumps:D i was really pleased and felt really confident i went with one lady who was great she had no expectations of me and i felt so confident, although there are times when i dont feel confident jumping cross country especially ditches and anythign down hill:o im going to continue doing 2'6 -3ft cross country jumps but some of the 3ft look hugh:eek: im much better jumping following someone over..... i dont know why but i just feel better. im going to a couple of cross country schooling days which im looking forward to.could anyone give me any tips in the meantime?

thank you all

x

p.s. she is 17hh medium weight, bay mare:p

[Daffy Dilly]

I'll ignore xc, never been so not the best person to advise.

As for working hunter, brown tack is preferred, but black is becoming equally acceptable particularly at local level. Go for whichever suits the horse best, usually brown, black is often a bit harsh.

Clothing wise, always black long boots (unless you're Lynn Russell), creamycanary (not banana, but not washed out beige) breeches, brown leather gloves, cream shirt, discreetly patterned tie, green or brown tweed and then a navy hat with a leather harness.

Basically you take the course at a quick but steady pace. You should ride into your jumps (not literally!) rather than collecting up like you would for showjumping, and it should look effortless.

If you go clear you then get called back in to do an individual show, this shows walk trot and canter on both reins, but only briefly for the walk, and you should include a gallop.

Not sure about the videos, I have one called Tips for the Top, which you can get from the Ponies UK website, that has a bit of working hunter in it. Best way is to watch a few county shows if you can.

Other little bits - you can jump in pretty much any bit and noseband, and use a martingale unless the schedule states otherwise. Horse boots are permitted (should be same colour as the horses legs) but must be taken off for the ridden phase. No other change of tack is allowed.

[warnersdb]

hehe dont worry i had my first ode yesterday :) but also got elimanated :rolleyes: in sj holli(my pony) ran out on the second jump in a double and i didnt no dat i had to go back round and do the whole double again so i just done the bit that she ran out in and got elimanated also got 72 faults in dressage but it was hollis first aswell as mine:p XC was great and got clear! anyway i didnt really mind well done anyway:p
X.Ami.X

[sugarpuff]

thank you both for your replys:)

is there any more.......:p