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[RC] Hunter paces - Rassiga, MD, Anne

Title: Hunter paces

From: "Chelsea Marsh" <chelsea_marsh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC]   Hunter paces

Hi Chelsea
Hunter paces are a blast - but the rules vary alot depending upon the sponsoring organization.

Basically they are a defined course (generally only a few miles)to be ridden in an "ideal" time usually in teams, but can be solo or even groups of 3 or more.  There are usually at least two classes - over jumps or no jumping (in this case jumping if you see an inviting fence may be allowed). Western riders are out in large numbers and usually (but not always) ride the flat course.  All sorts of horse people show up - grandparents with kids on lead lines, 4 H members, fox hunters, trail riders, show riders, pleasure riders, back yard horse owners, training barns with students, experienced and green horses, experienced and green riders.  Safety is stressed and teams leave at intervals so there are not huge masses of horses riding together in a group.

The "ideal" time is unknown.  It is the time an unkown member of the sponsoring organization takes to ride this course before the actual pace. It is definately not the fastest time - your are equally penalized for going too fast or too slow. Prises are awarded depending upon how close to the ideal time you and your team go. Getting a ribbon is really a crap-shoot!!!

Now here's where things change depending upon the organization.

In my area the hunter paces put on by the fox hunts are intended to simulate an ideal pace that would be safe following the hounds and would include the time needed for "checks" which are the times where the hounds rest after losing a scent or putting a fox to ground.  The course will be over very variable country with streams, muddy and trappy areas, sometimes steep  hills and a rider would use good judgement to conserve his horse and protect his feet and legs - so these are slower times. The jumps are combinations of natural logs, telephone polls, coops, cross rails - all have a way around without jumping. The ideal time is usually around an hour.

Another hunter pace series places 20-25 jumping efforts (and ways around)on relatively flat ground with good footing so these tend to be faster - time around 25 minutes.

A third variation is put on by the local pony club and simulates an eventing cross country course - here the 20-25 jumps in the jumping class are ridden at an aggressive pace and generally take only 15 minutes! - although there are novice and fun classes intended to allow riders to introduce themselves and horses to the whole idea and go at whatever pace is comfortable.

Even very experienced riders do not have an advantage at paces since the ideal time is a function of the pace setter's mood (and sometimes the weather conditions) when he/she rode the course.

The goal is to have alot of riders get together for a fun event with horses, sometimes with a fund raising goal for a club.  There are usually opportunities for good socialization, eating and partying!

Oh and to make this endurance related - this is a great way for a horse to be in an exciting environment and to be worked at a steady rider controlled pace despite encounting many other rider/horse teams with extremely varying abilities on the trail.  It is a good conditioning ride and also gives you good feed back on how your successful your training rides have been.

Hope you try these events and have fun!

Anne