Hacks and things

[Cob Fan]

A few years ago, a doyenne of the hack world told me that any show horse should have the head of a lady and the ar**end of a cook.

I always thought that phrase was in reference to Show Cobs, rather than all show horses

[thinkbig]

The phrase was coined through one of the most basic qualities of good conformation ......... strong hind quarters.
It therefore matters not whether the animal is a cob, hack, hunter or pony club/happy hacker!

[tj]

Cob said:

A few years ago, a doyenne of the hack world told me that any show horse should have the head of a lady and the ar**end of a cook.

I always thought that phrase was in reference to Show Cobs, rather than all show horses

I've only ever heard it in relation to show cobs.

[yawning]

Are we really bothered?!? Sounds like a sensible quality for any horse to me, but can we talk about something interesting now please ..........

[Work Lurker]

Err, Yawning if you don't want to read about hacks, why open a thread clearly marked as such?

Regarding the earlier comment about a horse having the head of a lady and the arse of cook, I too have heard this attributed to only cobs.

For any equine, surely it is a question of balance? For instance a hack with a dainty head and elegant streamlined front would look very "down hill" if this was follwed by a huge bum! The front and back end should look in keeping and to do that they should balance. Also this is necessary for a horse to give a comfortable, well balanced ride.

One can't imagine the ladies and gentlemen gracing Rotten Row requiring anything with huge muscular necks and bums that could grapple with the worst mud on the hunting field? Give me grace and elegance in a hack any day.

[julie]

For those of us who only know hacks through magazines/book illustrations, can you explain a bit more about the content of the shows hacks do - it sounds fascinating and a lot more complex than the usual figure of eight?

[FlashtheCash]

Absoluetly said:

Agree with all said^^^ but does anyone agree that Absolutely should have won at HOYS this year? no disrespect to any of the others

I dropped of my chair when he was pulled so low I nearly lost my faith that morning Bet J&V were glad they left MQ in the field, after that result.

As you guess..another hackfan could watch them all day. Agree that they are getting a tad heavier.

[depressed]

More than a tad heavier I would say- some are so heavy they would be more suited to SHP except they do not generally move well enough. It would seem we need to look to our judges to put correct types up the line, though this is somewhat difficult when there appears to be few of correct type competing. Some new young judges have come on to the panel in the last few seasons- presumably they are also going to head up classes with the 'clumpies' as they have rarely had the fortune to witness classes full of hacks that ooze the right quality and perform to the required standard, far too much 'dressage' way of going. A true hack should be exquisite to look at and be mezmerising on the move. There, my chest feels lighter........

[Jo Jenkins]

Yes, you are right there has been a 'blurring' of the distinct difference in type between a riding horse and a hack over the last few years. Often at mulit-ring shows when there are classes for one lot in one ring and for the other in another ring, one cannot honestly know which is going in which class in a lot of cases. It is just a blur of bling. Coloured browbands abounding!!! HOWEVER one clue as to what sort they are on is normally the looks on the riders faces! The ones who look like they are ageing by the minute are normally the ones on hacks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yawning]

Work said:

Err, Yawning if you don't want to read about hacks, why open a thread clearly marked as such?

Regarding the earlier comment about a horse having the head of a lady and the arse of cook, I too have heard this attributed to only cobs.

For any equine, surely it is a question of balance? For instance a hack with a dainty head and elegant streamlined front would look very "down hill" if this was follwed by a huge bum! The front and back end should look in keeping and to do that they should balance. Also this is necessary for a horse to give a comfortable, well balanced ride.

One can't imagine the ladies and gentlemen gracing Rotten Row requiring anything with huge muscular necks and bums that could grapple with the worst mud on the hunting field? Give me grace and elegance in a hack any day.

Work Lurker .... Can you honestly say that it is interesting to read post after post about whether or not an old fashioned phrase is correctly attributable to one type of horse or another?

You clearly have a good understanding and knowledge base on the topic of type and conformation and the phrase which has been quoted regarding heads and a**es does apply in some way to all animals.

I do have an interest in hacks as I compete and judge them so quite often am guilty of sending horses to the RIHS and HOYS which people then always form their own opinion about whether they deserved it etc etc.
The head of a lady thing in my eyes is relevant to any type of horse as a figure of speach and does not necessarily refer to the weightiness or size but of the musculature and strength. For example, Absolutely is a very typy, elegant little horse, he is lean and fit but has broad, well defined quarters which in no way detract from his quality TB head!

So, there we are, I have just added further to the post that I am fed up with ........ work that one out!?!

[hacksagain]

Depressed I feel that is a little unfair as i believe a lot of young judges coming on the panel are keen to bring back the hack type.
I have often seen many horses in hack classes that are very out of place and not suited and i wld be more than happy to place a more true to type hack at the top - as long as it performs as such as well as it does state that manners are of fundemental importance in a hack. I actually think that sometimes it is the producers having untrue to type hacks in the class but they often do well as they go so well and are very beautifully ridden and schooled. I look for quality, elegance and manners in mine.

[PLMVPKE]

Do you think that by raising the heights in small and Large we might get a more "True to Type" Hack? just something, else to discuss!!!!

[hackety]

Blimey, you're a brave person opening the height debate! Get ready to get jumped on from a great height!

I'm not really sure about the height issue. Smalls were always 15hh until we went to cm's so they now get that little bit extra anyway.
I suppose it would be more for the larges but don't know whether 160cm takes the larges just that bit over 15.3hh.

I would be concerned about raising the heights because that would introduce more of the riding horsey types into it. People would try to make a RH that looked small in it's large class into a hack and then we would be adding to the problem as described by Hacksagain.

[Work Lurker]

Yawning - I apologise! I thought you were having a "pop" at hacks in general.

I have never competed in hack classes, but have always been a fan and drag friends and kids to the ringside to watch whenever possible!!! I have kept my Weatherill jacket (mtm when I was 18) and if I ever lose 3 stone in weight and improve my riding 300% I will be tempted to shop for a hack, especially as an "aging face" would appear to be an asset!!!! Not sure that I could ever look elegant enough though?

[yawning]

Work Lurker - thank you for your kind apology ........ I would certainly never run a hack down, I think they are the most wonderful, elegant, beautiful and not forgetting infuriating creatures ...... I love them. And no, for all you cob lovers and anything else in between I am not excluding you.

You would have great fun in the classes, we all sit and chew our fingernails together waiting for the next erruption ....... only joking.
One thing I have found that when competing you can never rest on your laurels as your gorgeous mount may have second thoughts about staying at the top of the line depending on the flags, crowds, pushchairs, ballons, main ring attractions or direction of the wind ......... and when judging, never count on being able to have the one that you actually want to win!

[Cant Wait]

Can't wait until January so that they can go and get measured and registered again!!!

[woof woof]

"I would be concerned about raising the heights because that would introduce more of the riding horsey types into it. People would try to make a RH that looked small in it's large class into a hack and then we would be adding to the problem as described by Hacksagain. "

But they wouldnt win would they? The smalls already attract the overgrown ponies. Of the two I'd rather see riding horsey types in the large class than ponies in the small.

Riding horse classes have evolved beyond belief. Going back twenty years they were more a class for the "not quite a hack" "not quite a hunter"missfits to hang out in.

[RH Fan]

That's true. Good type has emerged however the success of the RH classes has been to the detriment of losing the individual show. Good horses did appear at the start. First Glance and Fair Breeze were superb. Standing 153cm Young Dragonara also proved the versatility point and qualified for HOYS RH, SHP and WHP proving even misfits have their day! He was an outstanding animal and a marvellous ride.