Supplement with Elite Equine for a Competitive Edge in the Hunter Ring

Winter in Wellington, Florida, is in full swing and many riders, both amateur and professional are entering shows ranging from the beginning friendly Heritage Horse Show in Plantation, Florida, to the highest levels of competition found at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Preparing for a hunter course requires a responsive, confident rider with a well-thought-out plan. Hunter courses are great for a wide range of riders but can quickly become complicated when trying to calculate the right speed, distances, and angles. The course design consists of seven to ten fences set up in 12 stride increments. Depending on the level of competition, the pattern can also incorporate lines, verticals, singles, rollbacks, oxers, and more.

There are several key components to being successful when riding a hunter course, including straightness, smoothness, and style. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your upcoming time in the ring.

Supporting your horse’s health with rosehip

Preparing a horse for competition in the hunter ring requires more than just training. Horses must also be nutritionally fit to be successful in the ring. In addition to a healthy diet, show horses can greatly benefit from an organic, natural supplement.

The fluid movement and form over fences you search for comes from correct training and healthy joints, tendons, and ligaments. Loaded with vitamins A, C, D, and E, Elite Equine Rosehip Supplement possess powerful antioxidant properties that help support a horse’s immune system and aid in fighting inflammation. Rosehip has been found to support joint mobility and health, the development and growth of healthy bones and hooves, and maintain a healthy coat, mane, and tail. Elite Equine organic rosehip powder is 100 percent safe and legal for use in all competition settings.

Arrive prepared

Whether you’re a new or experienced equestrian, it’s important to review regulations at the venue you will be competing at, and understand the rules for the type of competition you will be performing in. Riders entering a hunter class should know how to prepare from both a mounted standpoint and from the ground.

Creating a winning strategy involves knowing the course. When you arrive to the showgrounds, start by walking the course to get a close-up view of the fence patterns and the exact locations of strides, turns, and landings. If your horse tends to be spooked by certain elements, such as flower boxes, plan to give them a long straight approach to jumps with flowers, to mitigate a sudden spook. Walking the course in a route similar to how you will travel in competition will help you take that extra step to fully prepare.

Practice at home

Being successful on a working hunter course requires plenty of practice at home. Spend ample time training over small schooling fences. Practice cantering at an even, flowing pace and take time to work on half halting from your seat. When it comes time to enter the ring, this preparation will pay off. Your horse will be comfortable cantering fluidly, and you will be able to adjust speed and stride with a simple shift in balance.

Warm up well

After arriving at the show, it is a good idea to warm up for your classes. Depending on your horse, you may want to walk trot and canter many times around the ring, or simply pop over a few jumps to get focused. At horse shows, there is minimal time between classes, making it difficult to correct any significant issues with the rider team or horse.

It can be beneficial to simply relax and perform the essentials for class preparation. course memorization is an important component of getting ready for a ride. Automatic disqualification can occur when a rider does not know the correct route to follow a class. Be fully prepared before entering the arena.

Perform with Precision

Strategizing doesn’t stop once you enter the ring. Riders must have a connection with their horse as each movement must be made with precision. Consistency is key in a judge’s eyes for a hunter and points can be lost if a horse chips into a fence or leaves out a stride. The rider is responsible for helping their horse get through the course smoothly and with accuracy.