The standard requirements of the working hunter pony are that it is a quality pony of hunter type, is free moving with a bold outlook and must, with its rider, present not only a happy, controlled picture but also look capable of going across country. It must also be able to jump a course of rustic fences which at the major shows usually include water and a short bounce fence.

The jumping phase is completed first, during which the judges will be looking for an animal that jumps fluently, not rushing its fences or requiring a lot of effort to get it to go. Those required for the second phase - usually the ones who went clear in phase one - then complete individual shows and are given their conformation mark. The marks are then added together for the final placings.

The classes for working hunter ponies are:

Cradle Stakes (Tiny Tots) for ponies not exceeding 122cms with riders up to the age of seven or Cradle Stakes for ponies not exceeding 122cms with riders up to the age of eleven
Not exc. 133cms with riders up to the age of fourteen
Exc. 133cms not exc. 143cms with riders up to the age of seventeen
Exc. 143cms not exc. 153cms with riders up to the age of twenty.

Several new classes have been added over the years for Novice, Restricted, Mixed Height and Intermediates. The Intermediate Working Hunter class is for horses/ponies exceeding 148cms but not exceeding 158cms with the age limit for riders being 25 years.