I truly hope things change over here. If the Hunter Derby dosen’t spice it up a bit it will never be of International caliber. The countries where fox hunting originated are really having a good laugh at us. As well they should!

GreyHorseMatters – It will be interesting to see where it goes over the next few years!

JME – I’m looking forward to seeing if the Hunter Derby lends more credibility to American Hunters. I certainly hope so! I prefer to ride a horse with a little bit of spirit, and I love a challenge, so I’m thrilled about this development. I agree, I’m all about promoting real horsemanship.

For anyone also in the Northeast Ohio area, I just found out that there will be a $10,000 International Hunter Derby class held at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic on Saturday, July 19 at 6:00 pm. I’ll be going (and dragging the hubby!). See it on http://www.clevelandgrandprix.com/3.html.

it’s hard to get a feel for this indoors, as this is something that really needs to be done on a big outside course, but it’s interesting. i’d like to see even more challenging courses ridden at a real hunting pace. maybe that will come in time. but this is a start. this is the way working hunters are still shown in the uk and other parts of the world, and they rightfully mock the farce we call our ‘working hunter’ divisions as, compared to the courses they have to ride, it’s anything but…. as anyone who has hunted in the field will attest, there is nothing even remotely hunter-related about our current showring standards.

sadly, the motivation for this new division was, of course, money. the last thing we need in the industry is more so-called ‘top’ riders seeking sponsorships. but nonetheless, it may be what it takes to breathe some life back into the showring in this country and make it harder for all of these mediocre horsemen to buy their way into the ribbons with expensive, automated horses ‘doing the numbers’ over rote courses – and it will hopefully stop rewarding the unethical practices of some trainers trying to keep their hunters looking as lifeless (quiet) as possible. i’m hoping something like this will help separate the wheat from the chaff and promote REAL horsemanship again. of course, that may be asking a bit much, but it’s something to hope for.

I’ll also be curious to see whether pelhams/full bridles will become acceptable again in practice, or just in theory, since most of our judges seem not to understand their purpose or proper use and have penalized riders heavily for using them (when, as in dressage, they are required in some advanced hunter classes abroad.) but this is definitely and interesting development. as someone who left the hunter ring for the field, this is a hunter class I would actually like to compete in. it’s more interesting and rewarding for the rider – and one has to think, much more fun for the horse.