What a difference a year makes! We’re now approaching the first anniversary of the mandatory return of the handy hunter class to our 3’6″ and higher hunter sections.
When the 2009 show season began last December, there was much angst and stress over the change, and I heard many people complaining about the handy courses–primarily amateurs and riders who had first year green and green conformation horses.
As the year progressed, however, riders and trainers have accepted the handy, and now most of them look forward to this class and the change of pace it brings to the hunter world. There’s something to be said for shaking it up a bit for the riders, horses and spectators!
It’s now time for the next step—course designers, judges, riders and trainers must combine forces to help make our handy courses better. We need a process to follow that doesn’t necessarily place the most emphasis on building the fastest courses.
In addition, our newer course designers must be educated to understand the concept of hunters and what makes horses jump their best.
The handy hunter class has been a part of the hunter divisions from the beginning of our horse shows. Historically, the Pennsylvania National was known for implementing a pen in the middle of the ring that was incorporated into the handy class in a variety of ways. It was a fun and different challenge that I would love to see come back to the show.
The Devon Horse Show (Pa.) has long been known for the “take your own line” handy class. It’s always exciting to watch because it’s a place where riders can and do show off, and they strategize and try to outdo their fellow competitors for the blue ribbon.
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The USHJA International Hunter Derby classes have brought into play another avenue and concept of the handy class. This competition has required course designers to work harder at their handy classes and try new and different designs and fences. But while expanding their repertoire, these course designers must also remember that “tricks” are not handy.
Now that the pressure is on these course designers to deliver handy and derby courses on a regular basis, I would like to emphasize that they seek to understand and embrace the concept of handy. Be brave and be inventive, but please don’t be ridiculous.
Instead, allow for options and turns that riders can choose to show off their skills and their mounts’ abilities. Please don’t allow the courses to dictate the track for the riders.
Reward the competitors who can make the harder options, such as inside turns, but don’t demean or punish less experienced horses or riders who “don’t have a choice” in the matter. Riders in handy classes who take a shot and do it well need to be rewarded.
I’d like to also see our judges reward the handy class for what it is—a test of boldness and handiness. After all, that’s why the class was added to all of the divisions. The riders who take chances and make the tight approaches, and the horses who perform well when asked to turn and jump, should be at the top of the class. Yes, they must do it well, but the handy aspect must come into play with the judge’s score and the horse’s placing.
Course designers must also consider the handy class in relation to other classes in the division, such as when the first round of a classic is part of the division and they have a handy course.
As a judge and trainer, I must admit that one of my pet peeves involves the height of the fences, and I’ve seen this situation time and time again in the regular classes and handy classes.
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When you have a 3’6″ class— especially at A- and AA-rated shows—the first fence needs to be 3’6″, not 3’3″. Who decided the first jump should be lower? The heights of the fences should be 3’6″ in a 3’6″ class and follow suit in the 3’9″ and four-foot divisions.
It really is important to have continuity in our classes regarding fence heights. In fact, with the low amateur-owner hunter division also celebrating its first year, there’s a place for those amateurs more comfortable at 3’3″ to find their niche until they’re prepared to move up to the 3’6″ division. Let’s encourage our course designers to set the fences at the required heights.
As a whole, our hunter course designers are a talented and creative group of people. I think it’s great that they’re now being recognized for their hard work and dedication through licensing within our U.S. Equestrian Federation. In addition, licensing hunter course designers provides our hunters with the same professionalism that the jumpers have enjoyed for so many years.
Our hunter world is constantly evolving, and course design and handy classes are but one small part. But as a key component of our sport, course design is something we should all study and better understand. It’s a give and take: course designers should be open to constructive criticism and input from the riders, but at the same time riders must respect course designers and listen to their explanations regarding the courses they set.
It’s been said that making all of the classes the same has made horse showing less interesting. I agree. In past years we had a variety of classes, such as those for ladies and gentlemen, appointments, heavyweight and lightweight hunters. The years came and went, shows grew and courses became the same.
We as trainers, riders, managers, judges and course designers need to step up and keep change and evolution as part of our world. We’ve come a long way in one year, and our handy hunter courses have grown in popularity, so now is the time to combine forces to make them even better.
Susie B. Schoellkopf serves as the executive director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which is the home of the Buffalo Equestrian Center and SBS Farms in Buffalo, N.Y. An R-rated U.S. Equestrian Federation judge, Schoellkopf has trained numerous horses to USEF Horse of the Year honors, including Gabriel, Kansas, Big Bad Wolf and GG Valentine. She started writing Between Rounds columns in 2002.
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