From the Thoroughbred to the Warmblood, triple combinations to technical handy tracks, much has changed in the hunter discipline, and what we know now as a hunter derby is comparable to the Working Hunter Classics of old.

Ronnie Beard shares what he looks for in a quality hunter in the EquestrianCoach.com video feature, “Hunters Then & Now,” comparing film from the 1970s to John French and Rumba in the 2009 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The direct comparison sheds much light on the evolution of the hunter discipline, and much discussion has been made about whether some of such evolution has benefitted the sport. Certainly, the creation of the USHJA International Hunter Derby program has been a resounding success, offering glimpses into past traditions.

It’s eye-opening to watch the forward rhythm of Thoroughbreds galloping up to large, solid fences without ground lines, and Beard offers fantastic educational insight. Watch and learn with “Hunters Then & Now.”