Ahead of the 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show (11-14 May), H&H caught up with working hunter ride judge Anna Levy, who offers showing competitors advice on how to impress her when they step foot on royal turf.
Who is Anna Levy?
Anna Levy is a leading judge who sits on Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain, British Show Horse Association, British Show Pony Society and Racehorse to Riding Horse panels. She has judged at all major shows, including Windsor, Royal International and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
Last season, Anna judged the ride section of the hunter classes at HOYS. She is a former top level showing competitor, and she now events in her spare time.
Prior to becoming a leading judge, Anna was a competitor who won up and down the country on her show horses
What will you be looking for during the jumping phase of the working hunter class?
“I’m looking for a fit, quality horse who is bold, forward, light on his feet and able. The ideal working hunter is clever and generous, too; if the rider misses a stride, it’s handy if the horse can get them out of trouble. I’ll be looking for a smooth round, performed by a horse who looks easy to ride.
“While the round should be balanced, I don’t want the horses to look like they have been set up within an inch of their lives; they’re not showjumpers.
“I also have no opinion on the height of a worker; if the horse is 15hh or 17.2hh, it doesn’t matter, it can still win if it delivers the goods. That’s the beauty of the class, it’s for any type of horse with a jump in the tank.”
What are your pet hates when watching working hunters jump?
“I don’t like to see riders hooking their horses and over-setting them up ahead of each jump. Similarly, I don’t like to see that a horse’s canter has been overly shortened as if they’re about to go round a showjumping course.”
How will your winning working hunter ride?
“I like a responsive ride that is sharp off the leg and I dislike flat, tired horses. I want the horses to ultimately want to do the job. I like a horse with a comfortable canter that does not back off the leg when I ask it to move on. A working hunter should be comfy enough to sit on all day out hunting. If I’m riding them around a course of jumps I should be able to look at any fence and think ‘yep, I could jump that’. I hope our winner will cover the ground with a light step, too.”
Is there anything you particularly don’t like to see during the ride?
“Horses which lean on the hands and aren’t responsive. Though, if a horse has jumped clear around a decent open track, it’s usually been pretty well schooled. I don’t actually mind if a horse is a little exuberant, just as long as it doesn’t offer to buck or run off.”
Any sign-off advice for those jumping at Windsor for the first time?
“Lots of practice and if you still have access at this time in the year, try to get out to some arena eventing competitions. Most of all, smile and enjoy the ride. Even if you’re nervous, try to think positive and smile through it.”
You might also be interested in:
‘I’d been knocking on the Royal Welsh door for years’ – ones to watch in 2023
Could your horse tackle the 12-fence working hunter course at the Royal Windsor Horse Show?
‘Short jackets distract from the overall elegance of the picture’: Meet Royal Windsor Horse Show cob judge Kate Nicholson
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