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