What is the order of go in hunter classes?

The order of go in hunter classes determines which competitor rides first, second, and so forth through the class — and while it may seem like a minor logistical detail, the order of go has real competitive implications that experienced competitors understand and factor into their show strategy. In most hunter classes at recognized shows, the order of go is drawn randomly before the class, assigning each competitor a numerical position that is then posted for all competitors to see. The drawn order applies across all classes within a division, so a competitor drawn first in the first over-fences class will typically go first in all subsequent over-fences classes within that division. The order of go matters competitively for several reasons: early go positions give the competitor less time to observe the course under competition conditions but also less time to develop anxiety waiting; late positions give more warm-up time and the opportunity to observe how the course rides for earlier competitors but require managing the horse's energy level through a longer wait. The first horse in the class goes without the benefit of observing how the course rides — whether the distances are forward or conservative, whether a specific fence is causing problems — while later competitors can incorporate this information into their strategy. Hunter judges score each competitor independently without reference to how other competitors have done, so a judge who has seen many beautiful rounds may not adjust their scores upward or downward based on the overall class quality, though the natural human tendency to recalibrate is acknowledged by experienced competitors. Flat classes — hunter under saddle — are typically ridden as a group simultaneously rather than individually, making order of go irrelevant for those classes.