Ever wonder if the judge really looks at the walk?
Well in a word YES! – You can be sure if your horse is jig-jogging or stopping, balking and rearing it will effect your placings. AND a good walk will be put at the top of the list!

A ‘hum-drum’ walk will give you a hum-drum placing. So why not get into the top placings with a good start with a powerful walk. Here is a good place to start.

A hunter walk is a flowing smooth walk. The three top priorities are:

1. Performance
2. Manners
3. Way of going

So if you have a suitable walk, that is to say your horse is walking (not jigging) and is acting in a mannerly fashion then the judge will assess the quality of the walk. The quality includes the length of stride, flow of the shoulder and ease of movement.

Help improve your horse’s walk with some simple exercises.

• to get your horse more supple – try these exercises.
• to get yourself in balance – try these exercises.
• to understand the horse training pyramid, look at this blog post.

Related articles

• Show Ring Savvy – Give the Judge What They Want to See
• Horse Competitions
• My Riding Lesson
• Walk Your Way to Better Gaits