Ryan Roy has decades of experience competing and coaching in hunter, jumper and equitation rings in North America, and is a Senior Equestrian Canada judge (and a professional polo player!). She and her father, Randy Roy, an iconic hunter judge himself, operate Hunters Glen Farm in Schomberg where they specialize in training, showing and selling high-quality hunters and jumpers.
What do you look for when a horse first enters the ring?
First and foremost, I want to see that the horse is well-conditioned and turned out, and the rider is also turned out well, neat and tidy. I don’t like to form too many opinions when they first walk in; I like to wait until the horse jumps the first jump before I start to judge them. Maybe a horse trots great, but doesn’t jump the first jump well. I don’t put too much emphasis on when they come in, I wait until they get going around the course.