• On Equitation Aides:
  Less is better. Use invisible aids. If I can see it, I won't like it!
  

• On Hunters under saddle:
  Grab's my eye when I'm just a spectator. Appears to float across the ground, seemingly, never touching down, effortlessly covering the terrain.
  

• On Hunters over fences:
  Leaves the ground in rhythmic stride to fold legs and shoulders up neatly, while admiring the course designers efforts with his bascule.

"Scooter"
Charlotte Erdman Aboard

Classic Hunter Jumping Form "Rox Dene" Says it all!
Elizabeth Solter in The Irons

• Showing The Hunter
  The ideal hunter will have a long low stride covering great distances with little effort.
  In other words, you will see little knee action, but rather a graceful long reaching step. The hindquarters, carried well under the animal, must be used well, exhibiting strength and thrust. The top hunter will carry himself in a relaxed, rounded frame wearing a pleasant expression, ears pricked well forward.

  The “ideal” is the horse I’d most enjoy riding to hounds, one who’d be safe to hunt and would be most likely to return home sound, having exerted far less effort covering the ground and jumping obstacles than did his short, choppy strided or less athletic stablemate.

• Winning Equitation
  In my opinion, a sure way to lose an equitation class is to try so hard to look perfect, that the picture presented is that of a "posed" rider, rather than an effective, natural one. There are no shortcuts to good equitation. If you want to be the best, it's imperative to ride as many mounts as your trainer will place you on, so you can improve your riding skills and effectiveness to the point where you make it look "easy" and the horse you are showing appears to simply acquiesce.

  
  Jill Sternberg Demonstrates A Winning Equitation Position

  This rider uses invisible aids. He/she is straight without being stiff. There should be a straight line from the back of your helmet, through the hips and into your heels, which are depressed in a natural way, with body weight being supported by that heel depression.

  Often, in an effort to create that secure, tight leg, so illusive to the novice rider, I will observe riders gripping, rather than allowing their weight to depress into the heel. This inexperienced rider will squeeze tightly with the knee in a vain effort towards security. Rather than achieving the tighter leg he or she is striving for, the leg gripping tightly at the knee will create a loose lower leg, with the knee acting like a pivot point and the lower leg swinging from that point, much like a pendelum on a clock. The forced grip squeezes the body upward, having much the same effect a vice like grip would have on a tube of toothpaste, just the opposite of what the rider is hoping to accomplish. The "ideal" equitator will sink deeper into his leg and heel, rather than perching above his base of support.

  The upper body is ideally, slightly, almost inperceptibly, in front of the vertical at the walk, sitting trot and the canter and about 20% more forward at the rising trot and hand gallop. At the hand gallop, this rider will elevate his weight out of the saddle into a 2 point position, where contact is made with his/her two legs and no longer in the seat(3 point).

  A knowledgable equitation rider establishes a straight line from his/her elbow, through forearms and reins to the horses mouth. When his mount raises his head, the rider will raise his/her hands as well, maintaining that straight line. The same is done when the horse lowers his head, i.e. the rider will lower the hands to keep the same contact and line to the mouth.

  A polished equitation rider possesses an independent seat. By that, I mean that his/her position is not dependent on what the horse does, that he/she doesn't need to grab the horses mouth for balance when an awkward situation arises.

  I know I'm leaving a great deal out, because describing the "ideal" rider would take much more room than I am permitted on this page. A good book to read to further your education on this subject is "Hunter Seat Equitation" by George H. Morris. I like Anna Jane White Mullin's book on Judging as well.
  

What do I consider to be the worst riding error? That would be bad hands. Hands that are constantly causing pain for the horse due to a dependent seat, one where a rider has not developed balance and a secure enough position and is therefore, literally, holding on for dear life. This rider, does not have the security needed to direct his horse with finesse, rather will inflict discomfort to his/her mount in a feeble effort to stay astride. In order to gain the security necessary to ride with good hands, a rider must study the basics for a long time and patiently perform exercises to instill the deep heel, relaxed but secure seat, the erect, but not stiff upper body and independent, soft hands and arms. A sound riding foundation will come to those who want it badly enough to work long and hard, to study with a good trainer, ride as many mounts as his trainer will permit. This equestrian will do anything to ride. His love of the horse and the sport is near an obsession. He will muck stalls, groom, braid almost anything that will enable him/her to have one more ride. "Give me a rider with 90% talent and 10% desire and I may have a difficult time creating a star, but if I can have a rider with 90% dedication and 10% talent, that rider will win in the show ring".

Basic Judging Criteria in Equitation Classes

Many riders compete without having consulted the A.H.S.A. Rule Book about the judging criteria for each kind of class. Since judges constantly refer to these rules, it is important for competitors to also be aware of them.
Below is a summary of some of the important guidelines on equitation classes:

Position In Motion:
At the walk, sitting trot, and canter, body should be a couple of degrees in front of the vertical; posting trot, inclined forward; galloping and jumping, same inclination as the posting trot.
(Note: This description clearly specifies that in equitation classes on the flat, the rider should be in three-point position at the canter, not leaning forward and raised out of the saddle in two-point position.)

Hands:
Hands should be over (that is, above) and in front of the horse's withers, knuckles thirty degrees inside the vertical, hands slightly apart and making a straight line from horse's mouth to rider's elbow. Bight of reins may fall on either side.

Basic Position:
The eyes should be up and the shoulders back. Toes should be at an angle best suited to rider's conformation: ankles flexed in, heels down, calf of leg in contact with horse and slightly behind girth. Iron should be on ball of foot.

General:
Rider should have a workmanlike appearance with seat and hands light and supple, conveying the impression of complete control should any emergency arise.

A copy of the A.H.S.A. Rule Book can be obtained from the:

USA Equestrian
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, Kentucky 40511
Tel: (606) 258-2472 Fax: (606) 231-6662

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