Ryan Roy offers her advice on showcasing your horse’s movement and tips on proper hack class etiquette.
“I always say that if you have a good mover, the judge will find you, but it is important that you get in the ring and show off your talents before the class is called to order. Don’t rush, don’t crowd to get there, but be aware of your horse’s best assets so that you can showcase them as you enter. Whether your horse’s best gait is the trot or canter, you want to get noticed and get written down as soon as you make your first pass by the judge’s booth. As soon as you know the judge has seen you and written you down, you can relax the horse and wait for the class to start; you don’t necessarily want to work the whole time. Be sure to move your number about two inches to the outside so that it’s not hidden from the judge.
As far as positioning goes, you want to try to be on your own and away from the group as much as possible. Circling in front of the judge will annoy him or her, so avoid that; the judge will find the good movers. I make sure that when I am in front of the judge I’m not right on the rail, but a bit on the inside so the judge can see the whole picture. I’m always aware of where the judge is looking. Generally, judges don’t watch the short side and far side, so you can train there a bit if you need to, but when you’re in front of the judge, you want to be at your best. The horse should be on a nice loose rein with not too much flexion, have a nice pleasant expression with ears up, and be moving from your leg. It should look effortless.
Common mistakes I often witness include trying to over-flex and working the horse’s mouth the whole time. I also think it’s important to remember that a hack class is not a command class. When they say ‘trot’ or ‘canter,’ take your time on those transitions and don’t rush. It’s also so important to be courteous to others. If a judge sees you cut somebody off and they break stride, the judge will recognize you’re at fault, not the horse that broke stride. Always be aware of your surroundings and make sure you’re not affecting someone else in the class. It is also important to have you and your horse impeccably turned out, as you never know when that will be the deciding factor.
Remember that you’re being judged from the moment you walk in until the time they announce the results. Lineup etiquette is important. You want to leave ample room between horses and try not to slide into a spot where you’re not going to fit. If you have a horse that’s a bit fidgety, try to line up at the end. If you have to circle, just walk away from the group without interrupting the rest of the horses. If you’re having a problem with your horse and you don’t have control, the proper etiquette is to excuse yourself and leave the ring. Always remember that you’re responsible for your safety and the safety of others.
Unfortunately, if you have a horse that doesn’t move well, there’s really not much you can do. If you try to hide you’re not going to get seen, and next to a good mover you’re just not going to get written down. A bad mover is a bad mover and sometimes with a pleasant expression you’ll get a ribbon, but the best riding in the world isn’t going to help much. It’s imperative to still put the effort forward in the hack, though, as the judge may have loved you over fences and chances are he will be looking to give you a piece of it.”
