thinking about pleasure shows

[HoosierSuz]

I've shown hunters all my life, but never taken my QH mare to any shows. She just hangs out and goes on trail rides. Frankly, because I never was in pleasure horse circles, I never knew that she's actually kind of a fancy pleasure horse. So even though she's 15, I figure, it's time she gets to show off and win a few ribbons of her own at a couple small shows next year.

My question is, how is pleasure riding different than hunters? I'll be riding her in English pleasure classes. How should I show her differently than I would in a hunter under saddle or equitation class? What are the judges looking for?

Here she is:


Thanks!

[divinemisselle]

I am totally useless when it comes to offering advice on showing. I just plain don't do it. But if you do, the only advice I can offer is to always remember to have fun.

I do have to tell you though that I absolutely love this mare of yours! Her face has burned a place on my soul for some reason. I'm addicted to her. And not ashamed to tell you!

What a doll!

[holly]

I believe hunter under saddle and English pleasure are basically one in the same as they both require a suspended fluid trot, level poll but not behind the vertical. Only thing different, that you mentioned, is english equitation because the judge is judging you more than your horse. Hope that helps some or maby I didn't understand your question-I'm kinda tired.

[QuarterCowGirl]

I don't show, so no advice from me! Your mare is so pretty, I'm sure she'll excel in pleasure shows! Good luck!

[HoosierSuz]

Thank you, divine! I first laid eyes on Classic when I was 15 and she's been a part of my life ever since. She is a very kind horse and I can't imagine ever giving her up. I think someday I might have to, you know, when work or money or something gets in the way, and it just makes me crazy to think about. Even though she's not the horse I compete with or even ride all that much (she has slight navicular), she's a part of my family. I love her lots! It's good to know, however, that I'm not the only one who sees her value even if she is no big show horse.

I just think it would be fun to let her be a prizewinner. I'm going to take her to a little local show, just for kicks. Right now I'm transitioning in my own training from hunters to eventers, so why not try a little pleasure horse riding as well?

[Horse_Orderly]

If it's a pleasure class, it should look just that, pleasurable. The horse and rider should look like they're having fun and are relaxed and working together. I rode in those when I first got Zak and we never placed in pleasure because he was a handful and always "raced" the other horses in the ring.....needless to say, I didn't look like I was having fun. Ah, the good ole days. That's partly why I went into dressage, it's just me and Zak, no one to race.

[A J]

There are a couple things that are rather differant between your open shows that are typically judged with according to AQHA rules and traditional hunters: 1) your seat will be differant, with your lower leg a little further behind you (not something you want in traditional huntseat), and your upper body will be more upright. 2) you won't have as much contact with the bit - you should still have some contact, but the horse should have a level top line, with no arch in their neck.

I learned somewhat recently that QH/open show hunterseat and the traditional huntseat (like I was taught) are actually pretty differant, especially if you want to be in the upper ribbons instead of down at the bottom, even at the local shows.

Try picking up a copy of the QH journal, or looking at pictures of huntseat QH's for sale to give you a better idea of what they should look like, and what you should look like, too!

[tiggypoodle]

Originally Posted by A J

Try picking up a copy of the QH journal, or looking at pictures of huntseat QH's for sale to give you a better idea of what they should look like, and what you should look like, too!

This is VERY good advice-- another thing I can suggest is going to some shows that feature QHs and observe. In a "stock" breed-type show, a hunter class is called Hunter Under Saddle, because often "English Pleasure" is considered a saddleseat-type class. In an open show, english pleasure covers BOTH hunter-type and saddleseat-type.

There is a big difference in the way an AQHA hunter and an open-show hunter (generally a TB or WB type) moves. The AQHA hunters will move with a lower headset and the nose on the vertical, where an open-show hunter wants a higher headset with the nose slightly in front of the vertical. AQHA hunters have been described as being western pleasure horses in english tack because of this-- although the AQHA is trying to get beyond this stereotype.

Here are some pictures-- I did an image search on Google, so pardon me if I'm infringing on any copyrights or anything

First, AQHA type hunters:





And now TB/WB-type hunters:





Hope this helps!
Lily

[holly]

Well said Tiggypoodle, you said it much better than I did. I've only shown Qh and show basically the same way in HUS and English pleasure hence my avatar pic the way his head is. I've never shown a different breed(except App) therefore never had the high carriage like dressage and such.

[Britt5286]

some other advice i can give is that in pleasure showing they are quite a bit slower. The trot is not quite as long strided and the stride is slowed down as well. it is a slower pace movement. Look at pics of hunters and compare them to pics of pleasure horses. They are very different.
Britt

[appygurl]

Sorry, I wish I could help you! You have a nice looking mare...good luck!