Bella Rose Farm

Well said

There was a time when I boarded my horse and got heated, Jamie Sindell writes. I’m talking full-blown righteous fury over what I saw as egregious examples of poor care. Mistakes that made me seethe with rage. But now? I own my own farm. I’ve spent almost three years caring for my own horses. And I can say, with absolute certainty, that most of the time when I threw an inner-temper tantrum, I needed to relax.

Caring for horses is hard work. Caring for horses is not a perfect science. If I could go back in time, I’d tell Past Me to chill. Because now I understand things like…

Horses drink water.
I would show up to the barn, see an empty bucket, and my inner alarm bell screamed: NEGLECT. What I know now is it’s not like horses say, “Hey, I’m extra thirsty today, lady. I’m going to drain my bucket the minute you turn your back.” Odds are your horse went on a little water bender, and the staff just hasn’t been back around to top it off. He’s not dying of dehydration. He just drank a lot.

Horses hurt themselves.
I used to find a scratch or bump and immediately stew over it: Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Maybe it’s because no one saw it? Your horse could’ve done it in the privacy of his own stall, or while playing in turnout, when it didn’t look like much. Just because you see it now doesn’t mean it was obvious earlier. So maybe don’t go full psycho until you get the scoop.

Sometimes it’s best to skip turnout.
Back then, I was always complaining that my horse didn’t get enough turnout. If he was especially spicy, I’d blame it on that. Now? I’ve seen my ponies wipe out on the flattest, driest paddocks because they were acting like drunk frat boys. Add mud, ice, or sketchy weather, and the risk goes way up. Sometimes, a shorter turnout or zero turnout means your horse stays in one piece. So, ask yourself: do you want a fresh horse… or a broken one?

Horses don’t require a hay buffet.
If your horse maintains a healthy weight, most likely he’s getting enough food. I used to sneak my horse extra flakes to ensure he was “living his best life.” In hindsight, that was inconsiderate and unnecessary. Hay is expensive, and horses love to p*e all over the extra. Also, my horse didn’t need to be a porker to be happy–he needed not to founder.

Horses p**p. A lot.
I remember walking into a stall and thinking: Why is this so gross today? But some days, horses p**p more than others. And if they were kept in due to weather, it’s going to look (and smell) nastier. A bad stall day here or there doesn’t automatically equal poor care.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/05/15/confessions-of-a-reformed-boarder-karen/
📸 Photo © Jamie Sindell

BRF went to our first outdoor show of the season!! Thankfully, the days started a little later so we could enjoy the warmer temps of the day. The show was so well run with beautiful jumps and great footing. Every single horse and rider combo had success! Thanks Showplace Productions for a wonderful week and Saddlers Row for all the support!

Great start to our week at Ledges!

Bella Rose went to WEC Ohio a few weeks ago!! It was like a dream week with simple horses and fun people. Tons of great results with each horse and rider combo and a much needed fun week. Thanks to our trainers Laura and Celine at the show and Reese at home making everything run smoothly! Also a big thank you to Saddlers Row for all the support. Next up is Ledges!

Thank you Saddlers Row for this amazing opportunity! We are so lucky to have a tack shop in the area that offers so much support to local riders.

Today is a special day! Happy 19th anniversary to Bella Rose Farm!! Ironically it is also the first day of the Year of the Horse on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. We are so proud of this farm and what is has become. It’s going to be a great year!

Congratulations to Jacque and Derrick O’Connor on their new lease of Declan! We are enjoying him so much already and looking forward to a great year. Thank you Kinvarra Farm for this wonderful boy!

In the hunter ring, nothing begins at the first jump. Judging starts the instant horse and rider appear at the in-gate and continues until they leave the arena. In Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation, Teall is explicit about this point, reminding riders that hunters are evaluated as a complete picture—one that unfolds continuously, not in isolated moments.

Understanding this changes how riders prepare, present, and ride. Hunters are not judged on a single effort or a standout fence. They are judged on consistency, impression, and how effortlessly the horse performs its job from start to finish.

At the center of hunter judging is the horse. The ideal hunter is described as beautiful, athletic, and well-mannered, moving fluidly across the ground and jumping with style and ease. Teall emphasizes that quality is the hallmark of the hunter horse, not difficulty or flash.

When a hunter jumps, the body should remain straight, the front legs folded neatly and evenly, and the head and neck stretching out and down as the horse rounds over the fence. On the flat, the horse should move with minimal knee action, covering the ground easily and without tension. But hunters are not judged in pieces. These qualities must appear naturally, repeatedly, and without visible effort throughout the round.

One of the most important—and often misunderstood—elements of hunter judging is that evaluation begins before the course starts. Teall states plainly that “judging begins the moment the horse and rider enter the ring and lasts until they leave.”

This means that everything counts: the horse’s demeanor, rhythm, and relaxation as it enters the arena; how it responds to the rider’s aids; and how quietly and confidently it approaches the first fence. A rushed, tense entrance can influence the overall impression long before the jumping begins.

Hunters are meant to look easy and enjoyable to ride. That impression is established immediately.

Consistency outweighs isolated excellence. A single spectacular jump cannot compensate for an uneven pace, awkward turns, or visible tension elsewhere in the round. Judges are looking for a smooth, flowing performance that maintains the same quality from beginning to end.

Teall describes the ideal hunter as one he would “happily ride for miles on a fox hunt,” underscoring the importance of rhythm, reliability, and comfort. The winning round is not the one with the highest moment, but the one with the fewest disruptions.

Steady pace, straightness to the jumps, and confident, relaxed movement through the corners all contribute to that uninterrupted picture.

Although the rider is not technically judged in hunter classes, their influence is constant. The rider’s job is to present the horse in its best light. The quieter and more relaxed the rider appears, the easier and more pleasant the horse looks to the judge.

Teall points out that the more relaxed the rider is, the better the horse will appear. Excessive visible aids, tension, or micromanagement detract from the illusion of effortlessness that hunter judging rewards.

Good hunter riding often goes unnoticed, and that is precisely the point.

Because hunter judging is cumulative, faults interrupt the overall impression rather than standing alone. Pace changes, unevenness, or loss of rhythm draw attention. Rubbing a jump, jumping off center, twisting in the air, or uneven front legs diminish the quality of the effort.

Expression matters as well. Judges note signs of resistance or discomfort, including ears pinned back, tail swishing, open mouths, or a consistently high head carriage. These details suggest tension or unhappiness, which detracts from the horse’s presentation as a willing, enjoyable mount.

More obvious faults like knocking down rails, refusals, cross-cantering, or incorrect leads are penalized accordingly. Lameness and repeated refusals result in disqualification.

Because hunters are judged continuously, riders must think beyond individual fences. Preparation involves maintaining rhythm, planning turns, and preserving the horse’s balance throughout the course. Rushing to the jumps or over-managing between them disrupts the flow judges reward.

Hunters are not meant to look difficult. They are meant to look enjoyable, capable, and consistent. Teall’s description of the winning hunter emphasizes this simplicity: the horse with “the smoothest round and the best jumping efforts will win the class.”

When riders understand that hunter judging begins the moment they enter the ring, their priorities shift. The focus moves from isolated perfection to overall quality. Presentation, rhythm, and relaxation become as important as the jumps themselves.

Hunter classes reward horses that look like they could do their job all day, and riders who allow that impression to shine through. When every moment counts, the best strategy is not to chase brilliance, but to protect consistency from start to finish.

📎 Save & share this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/01/04/why-hunters-are-judged-from-the-moment-you-enter-the-ring/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

In December we started our first of many horsemanship clinics! Very important to continue your education out of the saddle 😊