Post by jacki on Apr 25, 2017 15:07:53 GMT
I took my daughter to a Hunter Pace last Saturday. The course was 4 miles, with at least 24 jumps. There were ditches, banks, logs, walls, etc. Maximum height was 2'9", and every jump had a "go around" option. Competitions were teams of 2 or 3 riders, and options included "Optimum Time Flat", "Optimum Time Fences", "Fastest time Flat", "Fastest Time Fences", and I think there might have been one more. The course was ridden earlier by one of the hunt club staff members at a "typical" fox hunt pace, once with jumps ("fences") and once without. The optimum time events were won by the team that was closest to those times, whether faster or slower. The fast time events were races - jumps were optional in the "flat" event but mandatory in the "fences" event (honor system). The entry fee for your first event was $30 per rider, and subsequent rides were $20. There were fox hunters, eventers, hunter/jumpers, and I saw at least one western rig, and riders of all levels. There were several teams (pairs) of riders who went through the course who rarely rode outside an arena -- when they finished, they immediately asked "Can we do it again?" There was even a short lead line course for kids on little ponies (or horses) - they followed a course of hanging buckets and picked up "prizes" along the way. EVERYONE seemed to have a great time. What a great sharing/learning opportunity. People came for different reasons - to school green horses, competition/friendly rivalry (mostly among hunt club members), to try a different riding discipline with no drama, or just plain riding a nice course with other horse-loving people. There will be another one in the fall.
Jacki
Jacki