Judging
Hunter Derby classes are judged using accepted judging principles for hunters as well as incorporating a system of bo¬nus points. The different types of fences and more difficult courses are designed to enhance our judging system of rewarding great jumping style, and athletic ability, as well as bold hunter riding. Horses will be judged and numerically scored on quality, movement, jumping style, manners and way of going. Pace and brilliance are to be rewarded.
Classic Hunter Round
Each judging panel will give their base score for each horse-and-rid¬er combination based on accepted hunter judging principals. This score and the Option Bonus Score will be announced sep¬arately, and then added together to determine the total score of each judging panel for this round.
Handy Hunter Round
Each judging panel will give their base score for each horse-and-rider combination based on ac¬cepted handy hunter judging principles. Then, each judging panel will then be required to give their Option Bonus Score followed by the Handy Bonus Score. The Handy Bonus Score consists of between 0 and 10 points based on each judging panel’s opinion of how handily this round was ridden. Riders should be rewarded for making daring choices, difficult turns and working with brilliance and pace. These three scores will be announced separately and then added together to deter¬mine the Handy Hunter Round total from each judging panel.
Total Scores
The total scores of each horse-and-rider combination from each judging panel are added together to determine that en¬trant’s total score in each round. Total scores of each horse-and-rider combination in each round will be added together to determine their final overall Hunter Derby score. This score will determine the final overall standings of the Hunter Derby class.