The working hunter classes at Hickstead’s Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) are known for their challenging and naturalistic courses, featuring undulating ground, stone walls, ditches, hedges, and traditional obstacles like bullfinches and water splashes. Amy Tough, a leading rider with multiple HOYS and RIHS wins, highlights the complexity and versatility required to succeed, emphasizing the importance of a true working hunter pace and adjustability in the canter to navigate the varied terrain and obstacles effectively.

To prepare for these demanding courses, Amy advises extensive cross-country schooling to familiarize horses with natural features and specific fence types, such as bullfinches and water splashes, which can be particularly tricky. She stresses the need to practice all elements of the course to maintain the horse’s confidence throughout and recommends training on slopes and gradients to master pace control, ensuring a well-rounded and adaptable performance in the ring.