"Do you welcome a Junior or Amateur coming up and asking you a question about their score after a class?"
 Given that judging hunters and equitation is a subjective profession, often trainers and riders want to know the reason their performance was or was not pinned in the judge's final order. USEF requires that a steward be present during a discussion with a judge. Most judges have a definite feeling about sharing their scoring and reasoning.
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"In an equitation class, what "extra credit" moves do you like to see, on the flat and over fences?"
A horse show is just that, a SHOW, and judges expect to see horses and riders at their best performance. Savvy raiders will go the extra distance and push the envelope to show off their best qualities and their horse's best qualities. Would a stylish sitting trot, a counter canter into the arena, or a turn on the forehand make an inpact?
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"Do you penalize a short strided horse that adds a stride in a line, resulting in six even strides in a five stride line? Do you have the same answer in an equitation class?" 
Hunter and equitation courses consist of 8 or more jumps in 2 or more lines. For example, the course designer might set 2 jumps in a line measuring 72 feet, allowing five strides between jumps. Sometimes a short-strided horse may canter the line and fit in six strides, while a big-strided horse may easily take four strides.
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"Do you consider tack on a hunter? Do you weigh the fact that a horse goes with or without a martingale? Do you credit/penalize a horse showing in a snaffle bit versus a pelham?"
Trainers and riders use various bits, aids and tack in order to maximize their horse's way of going, jumping style and rideability. Given the range of equipment allowed, judges may penalize for non-conventional types of tack
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"If it comes down to two great rounds in a hunter class, one ridden by a professional and one by an amateur or junior, are there differences in the way the two rounds are judged?"
Judges will notice an experienced professional rider or trainer versus a less experienced young rider or amateur adult as soon as he/she enters the show ring. Some class divisions are designed to separate non-professional (amateurs and juniors) from professional riders (trainers). But some hunter classes allow both, and does the judge take into consideration who is riding the horse
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"What do you look for in a hunter? What is your idea of a "classic hunter"? In a hunter under saddle class, comment on the "frame" of the horse you are looking for."
 Although standards exist for high level judges, judging hunters is largely subjective, based on jumping form, technique and overall impression.  In hunter under saddle classes, the horse's movement and manners are judged, with quality of movement paramount. Good trainers and riders can accentuate their horse's movement by creating a more extended, fluid and balanced gait. This gait is established through various means: establishing a certain amount of collection, moving at a faster pace, sometimes a looser rein, and/or various equipment to achieve the desired "frame" or way of going.
Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.

"What do you especially look for in an equitation ride? What are your top 3 priorities in the rider's form in terms of importance in an equitation rider, and why? (heels, hands, seat, etc.)"
Form follows function is the theme of good equitation. Many of our top Olympians excelled as Medal equitation winners. While most riders and trainers understand the basic equitation position, judging equitation is much more than placing in a beauty pageant. It's rating that indefinable connection between horse and rider and assesing good horsemanship. The judges were asked to describe the optimum attributes of a good riding position, and the most important aids that contribute to a solid equitation performance.

Watch and listen to the answers from some of the top hunter judges in the country. They have presided over the highest level of hunter shows from the east to the west coast, such as Palm Beach, Capitol Challenge, Harrisburg, Washington, HITS, Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Devon and many others.  They will tell you what wins.