[lunarjule]

Ok, I've ridden saddleseat all my life but when I was in college I was converted to a hunter. Since I'm not made of money and I cant buy a horse for every discipline, so I converted my saddlebred too. He seems to enjoy it much more that he can relax his head a little. I am taking him to an open show in a couple of weeks. Ill be showing in the hunt seat division, but in "Saddle type Hunter" classes (for arabs, morgans, and saddlebreds). I was wondering if anyone has every shown a saddlebred as a hunter, and what sort of things are perticular to the division. (i.e how should I braid him, if at all, can i use a kimberwick or short pelham bit, how high should his head be carried, what kind of seat do you take since saddlebred have such high heads.) Any information will be helpful!!!!

Thank you!

[lilrider]

You shoukd talk to EqUeStRiAn and GiddyupScoot they both have beautiful saddlebred hunters and can tell you what they look for in the show ring.

EqUeStRiAn shows her horse Daisy in both Saddleseat and Hunter so she would be especially good to talk to

I would love to see pics of your horse, I adore saddlebreds

Hope this helps!

[freedom32]

My daughter shows a Saddlebred huntseat, they've done very well together. The hardest part was getting Polly not to gait, took a long time to break her of that. I am not familiar with the type of class you will be showing in (with the other gaited classes) but I would treat it like any HUS class, Kimberwickes are fine, and yes you can (and should) braid. I would try to find a show with a class like this in it to watch. We show our ASB in regular HUS classes, and she does keep a higher carriage, but we are working on it. Good luck!!

[EqUeStRiAn]

I got your PM and I replied, If I missed anything let me know! I typically just do a running braid because I often have to frantically switch from Hunter attire to saddleseat in a matter of minutes. Always braid though, and if you are showing exclusively hunter, you can pull and braid manes normally. higher headsets are accepted in the ASB hunter world, however lower ones are becoming more fashionable. Either way a good frame is the most important as with any dicipline. ASb hunters can be more high strung but should still be able to walk and halt whenever asked (this is a HUGE challenge for my young ASB hunter lol!). Like any hunter they are judged primarily on manners and presence, but in most ASB hunter classes it is ok if they are hotter than usual (most are converted Country Pleasure Horses anyways). Here are a couple of pictures of my saddlebred hunter if you needed visual reference: PS I show her in a medium shanked jointed pelham and I show her in Country pleasure as well:
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...oto-g4142.html
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...66265409rSxxag
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...66265409Vfdath
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...to-g42723.html
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...to-g42722.html
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...to-g42719.html

I also forgot to add, most saddlebred hunters do best in exclusive ASB hunter classes, as all breed hunter judges tend not to go for the higher hunter headsets and hotter horses.