| While most people know that the Hack division at a | | | | Unlike the road and pleasure hacks, the show hack |
| hunter show is a flat division where the horses are not | | | | asks for the horse to be collected and working well in |
| asked to jump, many people do not understand the | | | | hand. A show hack may be asked to perform a range |
| difference between the classes that are offered. In | | | | of gaits including collected, working and extended trots |
| fact, if you watch the division you will often see horses | | | | and hand gallops. At all times the show hack should be |
| ridden the same way through the same gaits through | | | | paying close attention to its rider with prompt |
| all the classes without any obvious differences at all. | | | | transitions and an alert expression. The rider should be |
| The hack division is usually split into three or four | | | | attentive to his horse with good equitation and control. |
| classes including the Pleasure Hack, the Road Hack, | | | | The horse should be an excellent mover who will |
| the Show Hack and the Hunter Hack. In each class the | | | | stand out in a crowd. Working well on the bit a show |
| horse is judged according to a slightly different range | | | | hack should carry itself from the quarters and show |
| of qualities and to be able to assess these abilities the | | | | impulsion. |
| judge may ask for a range of different things. | | | | Hunter Hack |
| Pleasure Hack | | | | Many hack divisions do not include this class, but it is |
| Perhaps the best understood of the hack classes, the | | | | really an important style that should remain a part of |
| pleasure hack judges how quiet and calm a horse is. | | | | the division. A hunter hack is forward and works well |
| The theory is that a pleasure horse should be a | | | | on the bit. They should have three clean gaits with |
| pleasure to ride. It should be safe and comfortable with | | | | good transitions. While having good movement is still |
| easy transitions and a pleasant expression. To judge | | | | important the movement should be such that the horse |
| these qualities the judge will ask for a basic walk, trot | | | | would be suited to riding through the fields rather than |
| and canter. In each gait the judge is looking for a long, | | | | just in the ring. Comfort is important, but a forward |
| low stride with a relaxed carriage and the appearance | | | | way of going is essential to a good hunter hack. |
| of a smooth ride. The horse should be forward, but | | | | Because the class is based on having a good field |
| should not appear rushed or stressed in any way. A | | | | hunter the horse may be judged over a small single |
| rider who is relaxed and who uses minimal aids can | | | | jump. This jump is comparable to what the horse might |
| show off the pleasure horse in the best light. | | | | encounter when out on a hunt. A hand gallop may be |
| Road Hack | | | | requested in this class. |
| A road hack is a calm, yet forward horse that is | | | | All of the hack classes are based on styles of riding |
| capable of traveling long distances with minimal effort. | | | | that horses were used for in the past. Many of these |
| He should have a pleasant attitude, yet look as though | | | | uses are no longer common, but the hack division |
| he has the energy to keep a brisk pace for an | | | | offers horses a chance to relive the past. Whether a |
| extended time. The judge will be looking for a horse | | | | horse was used for pleasure, ridden out on the road, |
| who is not spooky or silly and who looks comfortable | | | | used to show off or taken out on the hunts the skills |
| to ride. Not only will the basic walk, trot and canter be | | | | required were suited to the task at hand. A well run |
| judged, but you might be asked for a working trot or a | | | | hack division will show variation both in the demands of |
| hand gallop. A working trot is a strong, forward trot | | | | the classes and in the placings of the horses. A nice |
| that covers a lot of ground without being rushed. The | | | | pleasure hack is unlikely to win the show hack class, |
| hand gallop is executed in a two-point or half-seat | | | | while a good hunter hack might not have the |
| where the horse is asked to gallop forward in a | | | | easy-going nature of the pleasure hack. By |
| controlled manner so that it covers the maximum | | | | understanding the nature of the division you can |
| ground with minimal effort. | | | | maximize your chances in each class and show your |
| Show Hack | | | | horse off to the best of its abilities. |