- 1). Begin with a well trained horse. Your Arabian must be able to walk, trot and canter on the correct leads. He must halt and back up and be soft on the bit. All of this must be done first before you can move on. Spend as much time as is needed to get the basics down.
- 2). Tack your horse properly with an English Hunter saddle and a bridle.
- 3). Keep in mind that Arabian English Hunter judges horses on smooth and powerful gaits that are collected and balanced. The overall picture is supposed to be one of easy grace and controlled strength, even though the act itself may be incredibly difficult. The horse and rider must show little to no effort to make it happen.
- 4). Walk collected and balanced. The rear hoof needs to overstep the front hoof by 6 inches or more. The trot must be long, low and smooth, with flat knee action and strong hock action. The canter must be rhythmic and utterly smooth. The gallop must be controlled, yet fast. Collection of the horse at all gaits is paramount. The rider must post the trot and sit the canter. Two point position at the gallop is a must.
- 5). Hinge the neck loosely on the poll, with the face at--but not behind--the vertical. Ears should be forward, and the overall impression should be one of effortless beauty and grace, and control. When the judge asks for the extended walk and extended trot, the gaits themselves should remain the same, with the addition of lengthening the stride to cover more ground. Your Arabian must remain on the bit at all gaits.
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